Published online Jul 24, 2022. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v13.i7.641
Peer-review started: February 5, 2022
First decision: May 12, 2022
Revised: June 1, 2022
Accepted: June 21, 2022
Article in press: June 21, 2022
Published online: July 24, 2022
Processing time: 167 Days and 0.5 Hours
Low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to be associated with a favorable therapeutic response to nivolumab. The activation of immunocompetent cells such as lymphocytes exhibits an antitumor effect; however, the development of excessive immune responses in autologous organs along with the breakdown of self-tolerance causes immune-related adverse events, including hypothyroidism. Therefore, the possibility that NLR is associated with immune response shows that NLR can be not only a predictive factor for good response to nivolumab but also a predictive factor for the development of hypothyroidism.
To evaluate whether continuous NLR monitoring during nivolumab treatment is useful for predicting the incidence and onset period of hypothyroidism.
This retrospective study comprised patients who received nivolumab for treating all types of cancer at our hospital between January 2015 and December 2019. The NLRs of patients were measured before each administration, and the patients were followed up till the administration of 12 doses. NLR at treatment initiation was compared between patients with and without hypothyroidism. Patients who developed hypothyroidism were categorized into three groups: those with NLR < 3.5, 3.5 to < 5, and ≥ 5 according to their maximum NLR from treatment initiation to hypothyroidism development. Further, the onset periods of hypothyroidism were compared between the groups.
Overall, 104 patients were included in the analysis. Twenty-one patients developed hypothyroidism throughout the observation period. NLR at treatment initiation was significantly lower (2.54 ± 1.21 vs 4.58 ± 4.03; P = 0.017) in patients with hypothyroidism than in those without hypothyroidism, and patients with NLR < 5 had a significantly higher incidence of hypothy
Low NLR at treatment initiation increases the incidence of treatment-induced hypothyroidism. Furthermore, its persistence may be a risk factor for the early onset of hypothyroidism.
Core Tip: This study evaluated whether continuous monitoring of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) during nivolumab treatment is useful for predicting the incidence and onset period of hypothyroidism. Patients with hypothyroidism had a significantly lower NLR at treatment initiation, and hypothyroidism incidence was higher among those with NLR < 5. Patients with persistently low NLR (< 3.5) developed hypothyroidism earlier than those with an NLR of 3.5 to < 5 and ≥ 5. Low NLR at treatment initiation increases the incidence of treatment-induced hypothyroidism. Furthermore, its persistence may be a risk factor for the early onset of hypothyroidism.