Work

Pre‐Treatment Serum Prognostic Scores and Survival in Curatively Treated Laryngeal Cancer

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) is a common head and neck cancer subtype, primarily linked to smoking and alcohol use. Despite declining incidence, survival outcomes have not improved. Prognostic scores, derived from blood-based markers like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SIII), are increasingly recognized for their potential to predict survival outcomes and guide patient management. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 473 LSCC patients diagnosed in the West of Scotland (2014-2020) assessed the association of prognostic scores with overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Patients were categorized into high- and low-risk groups based on combined scores. Results: Low LMR and high-risk scores were significantly associated with worse OS, CSS, and RFS. Nodal status and disease stage remained strong predictors. Combining clinicopathological variables with prognostic scores improved survival prediction. Conclusion: Prognostic scores are valuable tools for survival prediction in LSCC and, when combined with clinicopathological factors, may guide patient management. Further validation is warranted.

Source: Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

DOI: 10.1002/lio2.70124

Authors: Rhona Hurley, James Osbourne, Gareth J. Inman, David I. Conway, Claire Paterson, Catriona M. Douglas