Prognostic significance of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in phase 1 clinical trial patients.

Abstract

3037 Background: Inflammation has a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of tumours. A high pre-treatment NLR has been associated with a poor prognosis. Its prognostic utility in patients (pts) being treated on Phase I trials remains uncertain. Methods: We identified 300 pts treated on Phase 1 clinical trials at the RMH, between January 2007 and November 2013. Data was collected on pt, treatment and tumour characteristics, including baseline RMH score, neutrophil count and lymphocyte count. Results: Overall, 47% of the pts were male; 35% had ECOG 0 and 64% ECOG 1. Tumour types included 15% breast, 13% colorectal, 13% ovarian, 13% non-small cell lung, 14% prostate and 32% other. The RMH score was 0 in 23%, 1 in 43%, 2 in 31% and 3 in 3%. The median NLR was 3.08 (IQR 2.06 – 4.49). Median overall survival (OS) for the NLR quartiles was 10.5 mths for quartile 1, 10.3 mths for quartile 2, 7.9 mths for quartile 3 and 6.5 mths for quartile 4 (P<0.0001 for trend). In a univariate model for OS, median...