Predicting Different Recurrence Risk in HNSCC Using Circulating Inflammatory and T-Cell Biomarkers

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) lacks reliable prognostic circulating biomarkers.
• The immune system's role in HNSCC progression is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prognostic value of systemic inflammatory and immune biomarkers in surgically treated patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) or laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 394 patients with OCSCC or LSCC undergoing surgery.
• Assessed preoperative blood markers: platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte counts, and T-cell subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+).
• Evaluated composite ratios (NLR, PLR, LMR, SII) for correlation with global (GR), local (LR), and distant (DR) recurrence risk.

Main Results:

• Elevated platelet counts, PLR, and SII correlated with increased GR and LR risk.
• Higher CD4+/CD3+ and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratios were associated with reduced DR risk.
• Platelet count independently predicted GR and LR; high CD4+/CD8+ ratio independently protected against DR.

Conclusions:

• Platelet-related inflammatory markers and T-cell ratios are prognostically relevant for HNSCC recurrence.
• Differential associations with local vs. distant recurrence highlight inflammation-immunity interplay.
• Prospective validation is needed to confirm biomarker utility.