The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio has a role in predicting the effectiveness of nivolumab in Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a multi-institutional retrospective study

Abstract Background The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a well-known prognostic marker in various cancers. However, its role as a predictive marker for the effectiveness of nivolumab in patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC) remains unclear. We evaluated the relationships between the NLR and progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) in mRCC patients treated with nivolumab. Methods The data of 52 mRCC patients who received nivolumab therapy were collected from seven institutes and evaluated. The median follow-up period from treatment with nivolumab was 25.2 months (IQR 15.5–33.2). Results The median duration of nivolumab therapy was 7.1 months (IQR 2.9–24.4). The objective response rate was 25% and the 1- and 2-year PFS rates were 46.2 and 25.2%, respectively. The median NLR values at baseline and 4 weeks were 3.7 (IQR 2.7–5.1) and 3.3 (IQR 2.4–5.7), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, an NLR of ≥3 at 4 weeks was an independent predictor of PFS (P = 0.013) and OS (P = 0.034). The 1-year PFS of patients with an NLR of < 3 at 4 weeks was better than that of those with an NLR of ≥3 (75% versus 29%, P = 0.011). The 1-year OS of patients with an NLR of < 3 at 4 weeks was also better than that of those with an NLR of ≥3 (95% versus 71%, P = 0.020). Conclusions Although the baseline NLR was not associated with PFS or OS, an NLR of ≥3 at 4 weeks after the initiation of therapy might be a robust predictor of poor PFS and OS in mRCC patients undergoing sequential treatment with nivolumab.