Peripheral Blood Markers Identify Risk of Immune-Related Toxicity in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors
BACKGROUND: Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now standard of care for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unfortunately, many patients experience immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which are usually mild and reversible, but they require timely management and may be life threatening. No predictive markers of irAEs are available. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were evaluated in patients with NSCLC consecutively treated with ICIs. Prespecified cutoff values of NLR and PLR were used and related to outcome and onset of irAEs. A control group of patients with advanced NSCLC not receiving ICIs was included. RESULTS: = .020). CONCLUSION: NLR and PLR may predict the appearance of irAEs in non-oncogene-addicted aNSCLC, although this conclusion warrants prospective validation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study was designed to investigate the role of blood biomarkers in predicting the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving immunotherapy. The results of the study suggest a potential predictive role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio as markers for irAE development in this category of patients. These data provide rationale for an easy and feasible application to be validated in clinical practice.