Prognostic value of immuno-inflammatory biomarkers in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients receiving immunotherapy combined with chemoradiotherapy and its association with immuno-genomic landscape.

The clinical significance of immuno-inflammatory indicators and the underlying biological basis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who receive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) combined with immunotherapy remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of immuno-inflammatory biomarkers, develop a prognostic model, and explore the underlying mechanisms. This study included 212 ESCC patients who received CRT and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Association between progression-free survival (PFS) and immuno-inflammatory biomarkers, including absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio was analyzed. A nomogram was built based on the independent prognostic factors identified using multivariable Cox regression model. Pre-treatment tumor samples from 47 patients were collected for RNA sequencing to investigate the immune-related tumor microenvironment. Patients experienced significant changes in immuno-inflammatory biomarkers during CRT, which gradually recovered after radiotherapy. Body mass index < 18.5 (HR, 1.85; P = 0.032), N3 stage (HR, 2.41; P = 0.002), high pre-CRT PLR (HR, 1.53; P = 0.037), low ALC nadir (HR, 1.84; P = 0.006), and high post-CRT NLR (HR, 2.12; P = 0.002) were independent prognostic factors for unfavorable PFS, which were incorporated into a nomogram with a concordance index of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.67-0.72). High-risk patients stratified by the nomogram had worse survival and were associated with lower levels of leukocyte and T cell activation, proliferation, and migration and less intratumoral immune cell infiltration. Pre-CRT PLR, ALC nadir during CRT, and post-CRT NLR were significantly associated with PFS in patients with ESCC receiving CRT and immunotherapy. A nomogram model with good prognostic ability was developed.

Cheng X ，Meng F ，Wang R ，Liu S ，Li Q ，Chen B ，Xi M ... -  《BMC CANCER》

Changes in PD-1 expression on T lymphocyte subsets and related immune indicators before and after definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Shi X ，Zhao H ，Yu J ，Cai P ，Zhou S ，Yang N ，Li D ... -  《-》

Study on the predictive value of pretreatment peripheral blood inflammatory markers regarding immunotherapy in patients with inoperable advanced or locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Fu M ，Li Z ，Ma J ，Shen F ，Zhang X ... -  《-》

A novel disulfidptosis-related LncRNA prognostic risk model: predicts the prognosis, tumor microenvironment and drug sensitivity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Ye C ，Xu C ，Tang Y ，Qi Y ，Peng X ，Wei G ，Jiang L ... -  《BMC GASTROENTEROLOGY》

Prognostic Effect of the PNI and LSR in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Receiving Radiotherapy.

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been used to assess the immunonutritional status of cancer patients and can predict the prognosis of various solid cancers, and the serum alanine transaminase (ALT)/aspartate transaminase (AST) ratio (LSR) is considered a good predictor of liver injury. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients and LSR or PNI, as well as to combine these two indicators (LSR-PNI) for further prognostic analysis in ESCC patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). In this study, 134 patients with esophageal cancer were retrospectively analyzed. The Chi-square test was utilized to compare count data, and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were employed to identify independent risk and prognostic factors. Additionally, the combination of LSR and PNI (LSR-PNI) was analyzed. This study included a cohort of 134 patients, comprising 105 males with a mean age of 70.7 years and 29 females with a mean age of 76.3 years. Pathological examination categorized 41 cases as stage I-II and 93 cases as stage III-IV. The predominant treatment modality administered was intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for esophageal cancer. Of these patients, 96 received radiation doses ≤ 54 Gy, while 38 were administered doses > 54 Gy. Radiation-induced adverse effects were observed in 67 patients, with the remaining 67 showing no such effects. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that elevated levels of the lymphocyte-to-serum ratio (LSR) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were significantly correlated with improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The high-LSR group demonstrated longer PFS (14.4 vs. 9.3 months, p = 0.0469) and OS (19.9 vs. 13.7 months, p = 0.0315) compared to the low-LSR group, with respective 3-year survival rates of 18.4% vs. 12.7%. Similarly, patients in the high-PNI group exhibited superior PFS (13.9 vs. 8.9 months, p = 0.0071) and OS (19.0 vs. 13.5 months, p = 0.0002) compared to the low-PNI group, with 3-year survival rates of 19.6% vs. 11.3%. Stratification based on combined LSR and PNI levels categorized patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups. The low-risk group demonstrated significantly better PFS (17.8 vs. 10.1 vs. 8.2 months) and OS (24.1 vs. 14.3 vs. 12.9 months, p < 0.0001) compared to the intermediate- and high-risk groups, with 3-year survival rates of 24%, 14%, and 10.3%, respectively. Pretreatment LSR and PNI can serve as independent prognostic predictors for patients, with higher values of both being associated with improved progression-free survival and overall survival. Additionally, the combined LSR-PNI score effectively stratifies patients into distinct risk groups, offering a robust tool for predicting outcomes in clinical practice.

Gao J ，Li M ，Wang Y ，Wang Z ，Chen X ，Li H ... -  《-》