Role of the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the survival of primary parotid cancer patients

Guangyan Cheng,1 Fei Liu,1 Xinyu Niu,1 Qigen Fang2 1Department of Oral Medicine, Stomatology Center, The First affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Head Neck and Thyroid, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China Background: To analyze the value of the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the survival of patients with parotid cancer.Methods: In total, 249 patients were enrolled. Information including age, sex, pretreatment NLR, and pathologic variables such as, tumor stage, intraparotid node (IPN) metastasis, and follow-up findings was extracted and analyzed.Results: IPN metastasis was noted in 45 (18.1%) patients, and the mean NLR was 2.48, with a range from 1.5 to 6.1. The NLR was significantly associated with tumor stage, disease stage, and disease grade. A total of 73 patients died of the disease, and the 10 -year disease-specific survival (DSS) rate was 62%. In patients with an NLR<2.48, the 10 -year DSS rate was 68%; in patients with an NLR≥2.48, the 10 -year DSS rate was 58%, and the difference was significant (P=0.006). Cox model analysis showed that the NLR was an independent prognostic factor for DSS.Conclusion: The long-term survival of primary parotid cancer patients is relatively favorable, and the pretreatment NLR is significantly associated with prognosis. Keywords: parotid cancer, intraparotid node metastasis, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, prognosi