2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - ePosters-EP.14B.03 Predictive Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC) In Thymic Epithelial Tumors

EP.14B.03 Predictive Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC) In Thymic Epithelial Tumors

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The study investigates the predictive value of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC) for treatment outcomes in patients with metastatic Thymic Epithelial Tumors (TETs), underlining their immune-related complexities. Conducted at a single institution, the retrospective analysis involved participants from four clinical trials administering different treatments: Avelumab, Bintrafusp alfa, PT-112, and Sunitinib.<br /><br />The study aimed to establish an association between initial NLR and ALC levels and treatment outcomes. NLR, derived from the absolute counts of neutrophils and lymphocytes, has previously been associated with increased mortality and decreased benefit from immunotherapy in various cancers. However, this study found no significant association between NLR or ALC levels and treatment efficacy or durability in metastatic TETs. This contrasts previous studies on other malignancies and highlights a unique challenge for TETs due to their rarity and the potential influence of immune therapies.<br /><br />Participants' demographics mostly included white patients, with a median age of 56, and a near-equal gender distribution. The study noted heterogeneity in participants (thymoma and thymic carcinoma) and pre-treatment conditions, which might affect immune responses and thus, the study results. The lack of statistical significance in the NLR and ALC outcomes suggests the need for larger, more differentiated study groups, possibly via multi-institutional collaborations, to determine these markers' predictive effectiveness reliably.<br /><br />Overall, while NLR is established as a prognostic marker in many cancers, its predictive value in TETs remains unproven in this study, emphasizing the necessity for further research due to the rarity and complexity of these tumors. The study was funded by collaborative efforts involving NCI, EMD Serono Research & Development, and Promontory Therapeutics Inc.

Asset Subtitle

Nirmal Choradia

Meta Tag

Speaker Nirmal Choradia

Topic Mesothelioma, Thymoma, and Other Thoracic Tumors

Keywords

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio

Absolute Lymphocyte Count

metastatic Thymic Epithelial Tumors

treatment outcomes

immune-related complexities

Avelumab

Bintrafusp alfa

PT-112

Sunitinib

prognostic marker