Prognostic Significance of the Preoperative Controlled Nutritional Status Score in Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Surgical Resection

Abstract

Several studies have reported the preoperative control nutritional status (CONUT) score as an independent prognostic factor for the prognosis of lung cancer patients. Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease usually have high cholesterol levels, cachexia, and muscle atrophy. Abnormal nutritional status and lymphopenia were also related to poor prognosis. We explored the relationship between the preoperative CONUT score and patient prognosis and predicted the efficacy of pembrolizumab in lung cancer treatment. A systematic literature search was performed to identify qualified articles reporting the prognostic prediction potential of CONUT scores in lung cancer patients. A meta-analysis was performed for the association between CONUT scores and survival outcomes and clinic-pathological parameters. Overall, eight articles and 1,220 cases were included. Abnormal preoperative CONUT scores were a poor prognostic factor for elderly lung cancer patients. Finally, higher CONUT scores of pembrolizumab were associated with poor survival. CONUT was an independent prognostic indicator of lung cancer, successfully predicting the efficacy and prognosis of pembrolizumab in lung cancer treatment.