Sarcopenia and platelet-lymphocyte ratio of prognostic value in patients of head neck cancer

Written By : Dr Satabdi Saha |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2022-02-02T09:00:23+05:30 | Updated On 2 Feb 2022 9:00 AM IST

Recent research has highlighted that systemic inflammation is significantly associated with sarcopenia. Also,the survival and oncological effects of sarcopenia were enhanced when platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was high. Thus, the combination of these two parameters may be useful for identifying HNC patients at a risk of poor survival outcomes,affirmed the research team. The interesting findings have been put forth in Auris Nasus Larynx.

Numerous complex mechanisms lead to sarcopenia, including neurodegeneration, impaired signaling, inflammation, disuse, and declined nutrient intake. Sarcopenia has been shown to be prevalent in adults with cancer due to the increasing prevalence of disease with age . Furthermore, inflammation and malnutrition associated with cancer may worsen muscles.Although both sarcopenia and systemic inflammation affect the outcomes of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, the association between sarcopenia and systemic inflammation and the combined prognostic effect of these factors in HNC patients remain unknown. This recent study aimed to evaluate the effect of sarcopenia with systemic inflammation on survival and disease control in HNC patients.

For the study design,the team retrospectively reviewed medical records of HNC patients treated between 2009 and 2016. The skeletal muscle area was measured using a single computed tomography image slice at the level of the third cervical vertebra. A prognostic score (SPLR) was developed based on sarcopenia and the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and its prognostic value was evaluated.

Data analysis revealed the following key results.

Overall, 164 patients were enrolled. In the multivariate analysis, sarcopenia was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) (p < 0.01).
However, neither sarcopenia nor a high PLR was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival (DFS) or locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS). A high PLR was an independent predictor for sarcopenia (p < 0.01).
A high SPLR was associated with older age, lower serum hemoglobin, and lower body mass index (all p < 0.05).
Multivariate analysis revealed that SPLR was a significant independent predictor of OS, DFS, and LRFS (all p < 0.05).

For full article follow the link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anl.2021.03.021

Primary source: Auris Nasus Larynx

journal Auris Nasus Larynxsarcopeniahead and neck cancer

Source : Auris Nasus Larynx

Dr Satabdi Saha

Dr Satabdi Saha (BDS, MDS) is a practicing pediatric dentist with a keen interest in new medical researches and updates. She has completed her BDS from North Bengal Dental College ,Darjeeling. Then she went on to secure an ALL INDIA NEET PG rank and completed her MDS from the first dental college in the country – Dr R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital. She is currently attached to The Marwari Relief Society Hospital as a consultant along with private practice of 2 years. She has published scientific papers in national and international journals. Her strong passion of sharing knowledge with the medical fraternity has motivated her to be a part of Medical Dialogues.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751