Prognostic Nutritional Index Research Articles

The association of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) with cachexia in cancer patients

The association of the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) with cachexia in cancer patients

HALP and PNI Score as Predictors of Nutritional Status in the Incidence of Incisional Hernia after Laparotomy in Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Case-Control Study

Background: Colorectal cancer ranks as the third most common cancer in the world. If patients can still be resected, surgical therapy is carried out. An incisional hernia is one of the complications after laparotomy surgery. Nutritional status can influence the incidence of incisional hernias after laparotomy. Colorectal cancer patients must have their nutritional status assessed using a simple scoring. This research aims to evaluate Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, Platelet (HALP) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) scores as a predictor of incisional hernia after laparotomy surgery in colorectal cancer patients at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta. Methods: This study uses a case-control study design which consisted of two groups, a case group of colorectal cancer patients with incisional hernias after laparotomy surgery and a control group of colorectal cancer patients without incisional hernias. The independent variable was nutritional status which was assessed by HALP and PNI score, and the dependent variable was incisional hernia. This research by taking data from laboratory patients at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta. For multivariate analysis, a logistic regression test was used with a significance value of p 0.05. Results: There is a relationship between the stage of cancer and the comorbid diabetes mellitus with the incidence of incisional hernias after laparotomy, this can be seen in the results of the chi-square test. Advanced stage has an OR of 13 (P=.001; OR=13; 95% CI 3.551-47.597), while comorbid diabetes mellitus has an OR of 6.571 (P=.002; OR=6.571; 95% CI 2.109-20.479). However, there is no correlation between the HALP and PNI score with the incidence of incisional hernia after laparotomy. The multivariate analysis results in HALP score have a significant correlation between the nutritional status and the incidence of incisional hernia with OR=17.981 (p= 0.037 OR=17; 95% CI 1.198-269.803). Conclusions: The HALP score can be used as a screening predictor in the incidence of incisional hernia after laparotomy for colorectal cancer patients.

Comparison of three objective nutritional screening tools for identifying GLIM-defined malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer.

This study aimed to compare three objective nutritional screening tools for identifying GLIM-defined malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Objective nutritional screening tools including geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, were evaluated in patients with GC at our institution. Malnutrition was diagnosed according to the GLIM criteria. The diagnostic value of GNRI, PNI, and COUNT scores in identifying GLIM-defined malnutrition was assessed by conducting Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Additionally, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were determined. The Kappa coefficient (k) was used to assess agreement between three objective nutritional screening tools and GLIM criteria. A total of 316 patients were enrolled in this study, and malnutrition was diagnosed in 151 (47.8%) patients based on the GLIM criteria. The GNRI demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.805, 95% CI: 0.758-0.852) for detecting GLIM-defined malnutrition, while the PNI and COUNT score showed poor diagnostic accuracy with AUCs of 0.699 (95% CI: 0.641-0.757) and 0.665 (95% CI: 0.605-0.725) respectively. Among these objective nutritional screening tools, the GNRI-based malnutrition risk assessment demonstrated the highest specificity (80.0%), accuracy (72.8%), PPV (74.8%), NPV (71.4%), and consistency (k = 0.452) with GLIM-defined malnutrition. Compared to PNI and COUNT scores, GNRI demonstrated superior performance as an objective nutritional screening tool for identifying GLIM-defined malnutrition in GC patients.

Comment on, "Creactive protein levels, the prognostic nutritional index, and the lactate dehydrogenasetolymphocyte ratio are important prognostic factors in primary central nervous system lymphoma: a singlecenter study of 223 patients".

This study by Zuo et al. (2024) investigates the prognostic significance of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and the lactate dehydrogenase-to-lymphocyte ratio (LLR) in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) using data from 223 patients. The research demonstrates that these markers are critical in predicting patient outcomes, offering novel insights beyond traditional prognostic models like the MSKCC and IELSG scores. Despite its strengths, the study's retrospective design and lack of validation cohort limit its generalizability. Future research should focus on validating these findings in diverse, multicenter settings and integrating these markers with existing prognostic models to improve clinical decision-making. Longitudinal studies and advanced statistical methods are recommended to further explore the interactions between these factors and their impact on patient outcomes, potentially leading to the development of targeted therapies for PCNSL.

Risk factor analysis and establishment of a predictive model for complications of elderly advanced gastric cancer with Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ II grade

BackgroundThe occurrence of complications following radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer significantly impacts patients’ quality of life. Elderly patients are susceptible to postoperative complications. This study seeks to investigate the risk factors associated with Clavien-Dindo ≥IIgrade complications following radical gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer in elderly patients, develop a nomogram risk prediction model, and validate its accuracy.MethodsRetrospective collection of clinical and pathological data was conducted on 442 elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy at Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2015 to December 2020. They were randomly divided into a training set (n = 310) and a validation set (n = 132) in a 7:3 ratio. The severity of postoperative complications was graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification system, resulting in two complication groups: Clavien-Dindo <II group (n = 229) and Clavien-Dindo ≥II group (n = 81). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors affecting the occurrence of Clavien-Dindo ≥II grade complications, and a predictive model was established based on the results. The model was then validated using the validation set.ResultsAmong the 442 patients included in the study, 121 cases (27.38%) experienced postoperative complications, with 111 cases (25.11%) classified as Clavien-Dindo ≥II grade complications. Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), surgical duration, age, and history of Diabetes mellitus were independent risk factors for the occurrence of Clavien-Dindo ≥IIgrade complications in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer after surgery (P < 0.05). The nomogram model constructed based on these factors demonstrated good discriminative ability, as indicated by the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Calibration plots showed that the predicted probability of gastric cancer lymph node metastasis using the nomogram model was well aligned with actual outcomes. Decision curve analysis indicated the clinical utility of the nomogram model across a wide range of thresholds, demonstrating its practicality and potential for clinical benefit.ConclusionThis study identified Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), surgical duration, age, and history of Diabetes mellitus as risk factors for the occurrence of Clavien-Dindo ≥ II grade complications in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer after surgery. Based on these four risk factors, a nomogram risk prediction model was constructed. This model can be used to personalize the prediction of the risk of Clavien-Dindo ≥ II grade complications occurring after surgery in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer.

A prognostic prediction model for acute pulmonary embolism.

Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a very common and important medical emergency in intensive care units with an unfavorable prognosis. This study aims to explore the prognostic factors of APE and to construct a prognostic prediction model. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 252 APE patients in the emergency department of our hospital from January 2020 to March 2024. The initial observation endpoint was set as the mortality status of patients within 30 days of admission. Cox multivariate regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for prognosis. Based on these factors, a nomogram predictive model was constructed and evaluated using R software. Within 30 days of admission, 42 patients died with an overall mortality rate of 16.6% (42/252). Binary Cox multivariate regression analysis indicated that age ≥ 62.5 (HR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.23-5.63, p = 0.012), right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) (HR: 4.58, 95% CI: 1.76-11.96, p = 0.002), white blood cell count (WBC) ≥ 13.1 (HR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.20-4.60, p = 0.013), albumin/fibrinogen ratio (AFR) < 9.15 (HR: 3.36, 95% CI: 1.76-6.42, p < 0.001), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) < 50.3 (HR: 4.35, 95% CI: 1.62-11.71, p = 0.004), and Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI) ≥ 1.05 (HR: 7.21, 95% CI: 3.38-15.37,p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for mortality. The nomogram model based on these factors demonstrated a good predictive value for 30-day mortality, with an AUC of 0.908. The nomogram model based on age, RVD, WBC, AFR, PNI, and SIRI has a well prognostic value for APE patients.

Impact of infectious complications after gastrectomy on non‑gastric cancer‑related deaths.

Infectious complications (ICs) have been reported as major causes of postoperative mortality in patients with cancer. However, to the best of our knowledge, the impact of ICs after gastrectomy on non-gastric cancer-related deaths (NGCDs) remains unexplored. The present study aimed to identify the impact of ICs after gastrectomy on NGCDs. A retrospective analysis of 712 patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy was conducted. The participants were categorized into IC and non-IC groups based on the incidence of postoperative IC. Clinicopathological factors and non-gastric cancer-related survival (NGCS) rates were compared between groups. Further NGCD and associated risk factor analyses were performed in a background factor-adjusted cohort using multivariate analysis. Among the 712 patients, 112 developed ICs (Clavien-Dindo classification grade ≥II). In the entire cohort, the IC group had a significantly worse 5-year cumulative incidence of NGCD (17.8 vs. 10.6%; Gray's P=0.021) compared with the non-IC group. Although a number of clinicopathological factors differed between the groups, including patient background, operative factors and tumor factors, the risk factors for NGCD identified in the multivariate analysis were older age, low prognostic nutritional index, low skeletal muscle index and Charlson comorbidity index ≥1, excluding IC incidents. The IC group exhibited more background factors contributing to NGCDs, suggesting a potential increase in NGCD regardless of IC incidence.

Indices and ferritin level that predict organ involvement in adult-onset Still's disease.

Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate whether C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR), lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio (LAR), ferritin to erythrocyte sedimentation rate ratio (FER), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), prognostic nutritional index (PNI) indices and ferritin level can predict organ involvement in adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) patients.Methods: This study was planned as a cross-sectional study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the usefulness of ferritin level and inflammatory indices in defining organ involvement.Results: Sixty-one patients diagnosed with AOSD were included in this study. Multivariate logistic regression analyzes showed that LAR (OR 1.028, 95% CI: 1.011-1.044) (p=0.001) index predicted lymphadenopathy involvement, CAR (OR 1.249, 95% CI: 1.087-1.435) (p=0.002) index predicted hepatomegaly involvement, ferritin level (OR 1.004, 95% CI: 1.001-1.008) (p=0.007) predicted splenomegaly involvement, FER (OR 1.085, 95% CI: 1.012-1.164) (p=0.021) and PNI (OR 0.271, 95% CI: 1.132-0.553) (p<0.001) index predicted the occurrence of serositis.Conclusion: This study showed that ferritin level, CAR, FER, PNI and LAR markers may predict organ involvement at diagnosis in AOSD patients.

Prognostic Nutritional Index and the Survival of Patients with Endometrial cancer: A Meta-analysis.

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has emerged as a potential predictor of clinical outcomes in various cancers. However, a quantativetily analysis of its role in endometrial cancer (EC) remains lacking. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the prognostic value of PNI on the survival outcomes of patients with EC. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Wanfang, and CNKI to identify relevant cohort studies. Studies were included if they provided sufficient data to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) based on PNI levels. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Pooled HRs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model to account for heterogeneity. A total of 10 studies, encompassing 3656 patients, met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that a low PNI was significantly associated with poorer OS (HR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.62-2.49, p < 0.05; I2 = 54%) and PFS (HR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.74-4.33, p < 0.05; I2 = 78%) in patients with EC. Subgroup analyses indicated that the prognostic impact of PNI was consistent in studies from Asian and non-Asian countries, and across studies with different ages of the patients, cutoff values of PNI, and follow-up duration (p for subgroup difference all > 0.05). In conclusion, the PNI is a prognostic marker for survival in patients with EC.

Impact of Prognostic Nutritional Index on Prognosis in Geriatric Patients Undergoing Surgical Intervention for Colorectal Cancer

Impact of Prognostic Nutritional Index on Prognosis in Geriatric Patients Undergoing Surgical Intervention for Colorectal Cancer

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: The Associations between Inflammatory Markers, TLR4, and Cytokines IL-17A/F, and Their Connections to the Degree of Steatosis and the Risk of Fibrosis.

Background: The pathogenesis of MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease) is driven by environmental, genetic, metabolic, immune, and inflammatory factors. IL-17 and TLR4 determine hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and finally fibrosis. Objectives: To explore the associations between the plasma levels of inflammatory markers, TLR4, and the cytokines IL17A/F, as well as their connections with the degree of hepatic steatosis and the risk of hepatic fibrosis (defined by the FIB-4 score) in MASLD patients. Methods: The study cohort included 80 patients diagnosed with MASLD. The IL-17A/F and TLR4 serum concentrations were determined using the ELISA method. Results: We found a significant difference in the CAR levels (C-reactive protein to albumin ratio) when comparing MASLD patients with severe steatosis to those with mild/moderate steatosis (Student's t test, t (71) = 2.32, p = 0.023). The PIV (pan-immune inflammatory value) was positively correlated with the SII (systemic immune inflammation index), (r = 0.86, p < 0.0001) and the CAR (r = 0.41, p = 0.033) in MASLD patients with severe steatosis. In contrast, increased values of the LMR (lymphocyte to monocyte ratio) were significantly associated, with decreased levels of the SII (ρ = -0.38, p = 0.045). We also found a positive correlation between the CAR and the SII (r = 0.41, p = 0.028). In patients with mild/moderate steatosis, a significant positive correlation was observed between the SII and IL17A (r = 0.36, p = 0.010), the PIV and the CAR (r = 0.29, p = 0.011), the PIV and the SII (r = 0.87, p < 0.0001) and the PIV and IL17A (r = 0.3, p = 0.036). A negative correlation was observed between the LMR and the SII (r = -0.55, p < 0.0001) and the CAR and IL17F (r = -0.37, p = 0.011). Regarding the inflammatory markers, the PIV (336.4 vs. 228.63, p = 0.0107), and the SII (438.47 vs. 585.39, p = 0.0238) had significantly lower levels in patients with an intermediate-high risk of hepatic fibrosis as compared with the patients with a low risk of hepatic fibrosis. The PNI (prognostic nutritional index) (47.16 vs. 42.41, p = 0.0392) had significantly different levels in patients with the likelihood of hepatic fibrosis than those with a low risk of hepatic fibrosis. Conclusions: Regarding the inflammatory markers, the PIV and the SII hold promise as biomarkers for discriminating between MASLD patients with an intermediate-high risk and those with a low risk of hepatic fibrosis. Our findings underscore the role of IL-17A and its potential relationship with inflammatory markers in MASLD pathogenesis and the progression to hepatic fibrosis.

The prognostic impact of malnutrition on the outcomes of patients with vertebrobasilar artery occlusion following endovascular treatment

Background and purposeMalnutrition is associated with poor outcomes in different diseases. Our aim was to investigate whether measures of malnutrition could be used to predict 90-day outcomes in patients with vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (VBAO) undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed patients with VBAO who received EVT at three comprehensive stroke centers. Malnutrition was assessed using the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Primary outcome was good functional outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–3 measured at 90 days. ResultsA total of 285 patients were enrolled, of which 260 (91.22 %) met the requirements. According to the CONUT, GNRI, and PNI scores, the proportions of patients classified as moderately or severely malnourished were 7.3 %, 3.08 %, and 35 %, respectively. In the multivariate regression model after adjusting for potential confounders, malnutrition (severe risk versus normal nutritional status) was significantly associated with an increased risk of poor prognosis for CONUT scores (adjusted odds ratio [OR]14.91, 95 %CI, 1.69 - 131.71; P = 0.015), GNRI scores (adjusted [OR] 10.67, 1.17 - 96.93; P = 0.036) and PNI scores (adjusted [OR] 4.61, 2.28 - 9.31; P < 0.001). Similar results were obtained when malnutrition scores were analyzed as continuous variables. Adding the 3 malnutrition measures to the risk reclassification that included traditional risk factors significantly improved the predictive value of 3-month poor prognosis. ConclusionsOur study showed that malnutrition may be associated with poor prognosis within 3 months of EVT in patients with VBAO.

The Use of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio and Prognostic Nutritional Index for Predicting Mortality in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Study

The Use of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio and Prognostic Nutritional Index for Predicting Mortality in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Study

The Combination Effect of the Red Blood Cell Distribution Width and Prognostic Nutrition Index on the Prognosis in Patients Undergoing PCI.

Inflammation and malnutrition are related to adverse clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, it is unclear whether there is a relationship between the PNI (prognostic nutritional index) and RDW (red blood cell distribution width) regarding the impact on the prognosis in patients with CAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 5605 consecutive CAD patients undergoing PCI were selected retrospectively. The patients were stratified into four groups according to the PNI [high PNI (H-PNI) and low PNI (L-PNI)] and RDW [high RDW (H-RDW) and low RDW (L-RDW)]. The cutoff values of RDW and PNI were calculated using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. The primary endpoint was 1-year all-cause mortality (ACM). The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), the composite of cardiac death (CD), the recurrence of MI, target lesion revascularization (TLR), and stroke. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the association between the PNI, RDW, and clinical endpoints. During 1-year follow-up, 235 (4.19%) patients died. In multivariate regression analysis, the L-PNI/H-RDW group was found to have the highest risk of 1-year ACM [hazard ratio (HR) = 8.85, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.96-13.15, p = 0.020] with the H-PNI/L-RDW group as a reference, followed by the L-PNI/L-RDW (HR = 3.96, 95% CI: 2.60-6.00, p < 0.001) and H-RDW/H-PNI groups (HR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.99-4.50, p < 0.001). Nomograms were developed to predict the probability of 1-year ACM and MACCEs. CAD patients with L-PNI and H-RDW experienced the worst prognosis. The combination of PNI and RDW was a strong predictor of 1-year ACM. The coexistence of PNI and RDW appears to have a synergistic effect, providing further information for the risk stratification of CAD patients.

Value of preoperative prognostic nutritional index combined with NT-proBNP in predicting acute kidney injury of congenital heart disease children.

The study investigates value of preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) combined with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in predicting postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in congenital heart disease (CHD) children. The clinical data of 108 children with congenital heart disease were retrospectively collected. According to whether AKI occurred 48 h after operation, they were divided into AKI group (n=32) and non-AKI group (n=76). The clinical data, preoperative PNI and NT-proBNP levels were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of AKI, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the predictive value of preoperative PNI, NT-proBNP and their combination. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Scr, PNI and NT-proBNP were independent risk factors for postoperative AKI in children with congenital heart disease (P<0.001). The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of preoperative PNI, NT-proBNP and their combination in predicting postoperative AKI in children with congenital heart disease were 0.839, 0.738 and 0.907, respectively, and the AUC of their combination was the highest. The combined use of preoperative PNI as well as NT-proBNP holds significant value in predicting postoperative AKI in CHD children. Monitoring preoperative PNI and NT-proBNP levels may aid in clinically identifying the risk of postoperative AKI in CHD children, thereby improving their prognosis.

Predictive Mortality of the Prognostic Nutritional Index Combined with APACHE II Score for Critically Ill Tuberculosis Patients.

High mortality rates are commonly found in critically ill patients with tuberculosis (TB), which is due partially to limitations in the existing prognostic evaluation methods. Therefore, we aimed to find more effective prognostic evaluation tools to reduce the mortality rate. Data from critically ill patients with TB admitted to the intensive care unit of The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing, China, between January 2020 and December 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 115 patients were enrolled and divided into a survival group (n = 62) and a death group (n = 53) according to 30-day survival. Univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses were used to investigate the risk factors for 30-day death in critically ill patients with TB. A prediction model for risk of 30-day mortality was developed for critically ill patients with TB in the intensive care unit. The LASSO regression model showed that the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Status (APACHE II) scores on the third day after admission to the intensive care unit were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality in critically ill patients with TB (P <0.05). The area under the curve value and that PA3 represents the combination of the PNI and APACHE II score on the third day, which was 0.952 (95% CI: 0.913-0.991, P <0.001), was significantly higher than that of the PNI or the APACHE II score on the third day. The new model is as follows: PA3 = APACHE II score (on the third day) × 0.421 - PNI × 0.204. The PNI combined with the APACHE II score on the third day could well predict the 30-day mortality risk of critically ill patients with TB.

Association of inflammation/nutrition-based indicators with Parkinson's disease and mortality.

The study explores the association between inflammation/nutrition-based indicators, Parkinson's disease (PD), and all-cause mortality among adult participants. The analysis included 38,091 participants from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018. Inflammation/nutrition-based indicators were derived from a comprehensive set of parameters, including neutrophil-albumin ratio (NAR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), monocyte-albumin ratio (MAR), red cell distribution width-albumin ratio (RAR), hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI), geriatric nutrition risk index (GNRI), and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score. PD status was determined based on self-reported anti-parkinsonian medication use. Mortality data were obtained from the National Death Index, linked up to December 30, 2019. After multivariate adjustment, all inflammation/nutrition-based indicators showed significant associations with all-cause mortality among adult participants. The random survival forest emphasized the importance of inflammation/nutrition-based indicators and their components in predicting mortality, with PNI and RAR being the most important indicators for predicting all-cause mortality. Individuals with PD have a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to those without PD (HR = 1.747 [1.363-2.238], P < 0.001) among adults. Additionally, elevated levels of inflammation/nutrition-based indicators are associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality among individuals with PD compared to those without PD. This suggested a synergistic effect of PD and elevated levels of inflammatory/nutritional indicators on mortality risk. Specifically, individuals with PD and elevated NAR (HR = 2.066 [1.398-3.052], P < 0.001), MAR (HR = 2.249 [1.612-3.138], P < 0.001), RAR (HR = 1.617 [1.179-2.218], P = 0.003), ALI (HR = 1.763 [1.225-2.537], P = 0.002) and CONUT (HR = 2.221 [1.434-3.440], P < 0.001), and not elevated PNI (HR = 1.771 [1.295-2.423], P < 0.001), HALP (HR = 1.738 [1.242-2.432], P = 0.001), and GNRI (HR = 2.689 [1.898-3.811], P < 0.001) have a substantially higher risk of mortality compared to those without PD. Inflammation and nutrition status play crucial roles in predicting all-cause mortality among adults, particularly in the context of PD. The study underscores the importance of considering both factors in mortality risk assessment and provides valuable insights for future research and clinical practice.

Inflammation-related markers and prognosis of alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric cancer.

Inflammation-related markers including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) could reflect tumor immune microenvironment and predict prognosis of cancers. However, it had not been explored in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) producing gastric cancer (GC). To determine the predictive value of inflammation-related peripheral blood markers including as NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, SIRI and PNI in the prognosis of AFP- producing GC (AFPGC). Besides, this study would also compare the differences in tumor immune microenvironment, clinical characteristics and prognosis between AFPGC and AFP- GC patients to improve the understanding of this disease. 573 patients enrolled were retrospectively studied. They were divided into AFP+ group (AFP ≥ 20 ng/mL) and AFP- group (AFP < 20 ng/mL), comparing the levels of NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI/PNI and prognosis. In AFP+ group, the impact of NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI/PNI and their dynamic changes on prognosis were further explored. Compared with AFP- patients, AFP+ patients had higher NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI and lower PNI levels and poorer overall survival (OS). In the AFP+ group, mortality was significantly lower in the lower NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI group and higher PNI group. Moreover, the dynamic increase (NLR/PLR/MLR/SII/SIRI) or decrease (PNI) was associated with the rise of mortality within 1 year of follow-up. Compared with AFP- patients, the level of inflammation-related peripheral blood markers significantly increased in AFP+ patients, which was correlated with OS of AFP+ patients. Also, the gradual increase of SII and SIRI was associated with the risk of death within one year in AFP+ patients. AFPGC should be considered as a separate type and distinguished from AFP- GC because of the difference in tumor immune microenvironment. It requires basic experiments and large clinical samples in the future.

Clinical Impact of Skeletal Muscle Mass and Nutritional Status in Patients with Recurrent or Advanced Gastric Cancer Treated with Nivolumab

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of skeletal muscle mass and nutritional status in gastric cancer patients treated with nivolumab monotherapy as late-line treatment. Methods: We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study of 90 gastric cancer patients who previously received anti-PD-1 therapy (nivolumab). On computed tomography images captured before nivolumab induction, the skeletal muscle index (SMI, cm2/m2) was defined as the erector muscle area (cm2) divided by the height (m) squared. Patients were divided into two groups: those with SMI-high (n = 45) and those with SMI-low (n = 45). Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) was also calculated before nivolumab induction. The associations of SMI and PNI with response rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), and safety were analyzed. Results: The cutoff values for SMI were determined as 13.45 for males and 10.41 for females. SMI-high was significantly associated with a higher RR (odds ratio = 12.36, p = 0.02) and DCR (odds ratio = 2.97, p = 0.02). Although not significant, PNI-high also tended to be associated with a higher RR. Multivariate analysis showed that SMI-high was independently associated with a higher RR and higher DCR in gastric cancer. Moreover, prognostic analyses revealed that SMI-high (log-rank test p = 0.008) and PNI-high (log-rank test p = 0.0008) were significantly associated with longer OS since nivolumab induction. SMI-high was also associated with longer PFS (log-rank test p = 0.03). There were no significant differences in immune-related adverse event between SMI-low and SMI-high. Conclusion: SMI and PNI were associated with nivolumab efficacy in gastric cancer patients. Management of skeletal muscle loss and nutritional status in gastric cancer patients who will receive nivolumab would be beneficial to enhance survival outcomes.

Identification of Biomarkers for Assessing Treatment Efficacy of Chemotherapy plus Nivolumab as the First Line in Patients with Unresectable Advanced or Recurrent Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter Study

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to identify biomarkers for predicting treatment outcomes and efficacy of chemotherapy plus nivolumab, as well as predict immune-related adverse events (irAEs) characteristics of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Methods: This multicenter study included 104 patients who received chemotherapy plus nivolumab as the primary treatment for unresectable advanced recurrent gastric cancer. Blood test results were collected before the start and after two courses of treatment. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, prognostic nutritional index, and lactate dehydrogenase/albumin ratio (LAR) were examined after treatment in each case to determine changes compared to values before the start of treatment. Results: A total of 57 (54.8%) patients experienced a complete or partial response. The LAR of the stable disease/progressive disease group significantly increased (p = 0.018). An examination of the presence of grade ≥3 irAEs and changes in related factors showed that the LAR of all patients increased. Conclusion: The LAR was correlated with the best therapeutic response; therefore, it may be a potential biomarker of treatment outcomes and efficacy.