Significance of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of outcome in head and neck cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation.

Background: The role of host immune system in carcinogenesis and response to treatment is increasingly studied, including predictive potential of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of pre- and post-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) for treatment outcome in patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC) treated with definitive chemoradiation.

Materials And Methods: Electronic medical records of patients were evaluated and NLR was calculated.