Prognostic markers compared to CD3+TIL in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Abstract

Locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) is more prevalent in some geographic regions, including Saudi Arabia. Typically, Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging is used in NPC. However, it is inadequate to assess the prognosis of LA-NPC.Therefore, we analyzed and compared several previously reported prognostic factors in LA-NPC patients, retrospectively, including CD3+tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and peripheral blood hemoglobin, EBV DNA copy number, ratios of albumin-to-alkaline phosphatase ratio (AAPR), neutrophils, or platelets-to-lymphocytes (NLR, PLR). The studied cohort was 83 LA-NPC patients previously recruited for a randomized phase II trial with a different aim.Univariate cox regression analysis showed no significant correlation between any of the tested variables with disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) with the exception of low CD3+ TIL infiltration, which correlated significantly with DFS (HR = 6.7, P =