Prognostic Value of Neutrophil Percentage–Albumin Ratio in Patients with Advanced Melanoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Background: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved survival in advanced melanoma, predicting individual responses remains challenging; thus, practical and inexpensive biomarkers are needed. In this study, we investigated the prognostic value of the neutrophil percentage–albumin ratio (NPAR) in patients with advanced melanoma receiving ICI therapy. Methods: Fifty patients treated in our clinic were included, with a mean age of 53.3 years and 66% being male. Visceral metastases were present in 76% of the cohort. Through conducting Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, we determined an NPAR cut-off value of 1.81, with patients categorized into low (<1.81, n = 27)- and high (≥1.81, n = 23)-NPAR groups. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results: High NPAR (≥1.81) significantly shortened both PFS and OS. In the univariate analysis, high NPAR emerged as a strong risk factor for PFS (HR: 2.68, p = 0.002) and OS (HR: 3.70, p < 0.001), while multivariate analysis confirmed NPAR as an independent negative prognostic factor for PFS (HR: 2.45, p = 0.006) and OS (HR: 2.82, p = 0.003), regardless of clinical variables. Additionally, visceral metastasis was an independent negative predictor of survival. Conclusions: Pre-treatment NPAR levels may be an independent and potential predictor of survival in advanced melanoma patients receiving ICIs. This easily calculable ratio could provide a practical guide for risk stratification.

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Journal
Current Oncology
Published
2026-05-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol33060302
Primary Topic
Inflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis
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article
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article

Prognostic Value of Neutrophil Percentage–Albumin Ratio in Patients with Advanced Melanoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Elif Büyükkurt, Faruk Yıldız, Emel Ayvaz Guneyin, Emre Eken et al.
Current Oncology
Inflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis
article

Prognostic Value of Neutrophil Percentage–Albumin Ratio in Patients with Advanced Melanoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Elif Büyükkurt, Faruk Yıldız, Emel Ayvaz Guneyin, Emre Eken, Canan Dinar Ayman, Mehmet Bilici
article en

Abstract

Background: Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved survival in advanced melanoma, predicting individual responses remains challenging; thus, practical and inexpensive biomarkers are needed. In this study, we investigated the prognostic value of the neutrophil percentage–albumin ratio (NPAR) in patients with advanced melanoma receiving ICI therapy. Methods: Fifty patients treated in our clinic were included, with a mean age of 53.3 years and 66% being male. Visceral metastases were present in 76% of the cohort. Through conducting Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, we determined an NPAR cut-off value of 1.81, with patients categorized into low (<1.81, n = 27)- and high (≥1.81, n = 23)-NPAR groups. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results: High NPAR (≥1.81) significantly shortened both PFS and OS. In the univariate analysis, high NPAR emerged as a strong risk factor for PFS (HR: 2.68, p = 0.002) and OS (HR: 3.70, p < 0.001), while multivariate analysis confirmed NPAR as an independent negative prognostic factor for PFS (HR: 2.45, p = 0.006) and OS (HR: 2.82, p = 0.003), regardless of clinical variables. Additionally, visceral metastasis was an independent negative predictor of survival. Conclusions: Pre-treatment NPAR levels may be an independent and potential predictor of survival in advanced melanoma patients receiving ICIs. This easily calculable ratio could provide a practical guide for risk stratification.

Current OncologyVol. 33(6)
Atatürk University (TR)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Inflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis
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