Is the Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio a Useful Prognostic Indicator in Melanoma Patients?

Overview

Journal Melanoma Manag

Date 2020 Sep 14

PMID 32922729

Citations 17

Authors

Joshua T Cohen

Thomas J Miner

Michael P Vezeridis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is gaining traction as a biomarker with utility in a variety of malignancies including melanoma. Intact lymphocyte function is necessary for tumor surveillance and destruction, and neutrophils play a role in suppressing lymphocyte proliferation and in the induction of lymphocyte apoptosis. Early research in melanoma indicates that in high-risk localized melanoma, a high NLR is correlated with worse overall and disease-free survival. Similarly, in metastatic melanoma treated with both metastasectomy and immunotherapies, an elevated NLR is predictive of shortened overall survival and progression-free survival. Future studies incorporating NLR into more traditional melanoma prognostic markers while employing more granular outcomes, are needed to realize the full potential of NLR.

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