In a nutshell
This study investigated whether the neutrophil-lymphocyte (NLR; types of white blood cells) ratio is an effective predictor of ipilimumab (Yervoy) response in metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) melanoma patients. Researchers suggested that the NLR is strongly associated with the outcome of patients treated with ipilimumab.
Some background
Ipilimumab is an important treatment option for melanoma patients. This treatment stimulates the immune system to fight melanoma cells the way it would a virus or bacteria. However, some patients do not benefit as much from treatment with this drug.
Previous studies have shown that the NLR is associated with survival in patients treated with ipilimumab. The NLR could be an efficient way to evaluate prognosis and identify who would benefit most from this treatment.
Methods & findings
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the NLR is an effective predictive factor for treatment with ipilimumab of metastatic melanoma.
This study included information on 69 patients with metastatic melanoma treated with ipilimumab. White blood cell levels were analyzed before and after treatment. Tumor size was checked at the beginning of the treatment, at week 12 and every 12 weeks thereafter. The average follow-up period was 10.6 months.
Overall survival (OS; time from treatment to death from any cause) and progression-free survival (PFS; time from treatment to disease progression) were evaluated.
The average PFS was 3.6 months for patients with a lower NLR, and 1.9 months for patients with a higher NLR. Patients with a lower NLR had 62% lower risk of disease progression when compared with those with an elevated NLR. The average OS was 8 months for patients with a lower NLR and 2.6 months for patients with a higher NLR. Patients with a lower NLR had 76% lower risk of death when compared with those with elevated NLR.
The bottom line
This study suggested that the NLR is a good factor to determine the prognosis of patients treated with ipilimumab.
Published By :
British Journal of Cancer
Date :
May 26, 2015
