Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts the Efficacy of Pembrolizumab in Patients With Urothelial Carcinoma

Abstract

Background/aim: This study aimed to determine useful predictive factors for selecting patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) who might benefit clinically from treatment with pembrolizumab.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients who underwent pembrolizumab treatment for UC. The hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte and platelet (HALP) score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated as indices of systemic inflammatory response, and the relationships between these scores and the initial tumor response or overall survival, as well as other clinicopathological factors, were assessed.

Results: High NLR and PLR were associated with a poor initial tumor response to pembrolizumab. A HALP score <30.05 and a PLR ≥173.73 were associated with worse overall survival. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, a high PLR was a significant independent prognostic factor for unfavorable outcomes.

Conclusion: A high pretreatment PLR may be a valuable indicator for choosing therapy other than pembrolizumab in patients with advanced UC.

Keywords: Pembrolizumab; platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; urothelial carcinoma.