Table 5 Summary of studies investigating the prognostic role of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in oropharyngeal cancer (OC)

Rachidi et al. [13]

n = 543 HNSCC (170 OC), any treatment

(2000–2012)

4.39 (upper tertile)

- Increased mortality for high NLR (HR = 2.39)

- NLR prognostic factor both in p16-pos. And neg. Pts.

- NLR significantly lower in p16-pos. Patients

yes (89/543)

Charles et al. [29]

n = 145 (76 OC), radio(chemo)therapy

(2005–2012)

5.0 (based on review [39])

- High NLR associated in OC with inferior OS (HR = 4.6) and RFS (HR = 3.01)

- No subgroup analysis for p16 pos. Pts.

yes (95/145)

Kano et al. [40]

n = 285 HNSCC (116 OC), radiochemotherapy (2003–2012)

1.92 (based on ROC analysis)

- High NLR associated with inferior OS and DFS, but not significant on multivariate analysis

no

Valero et al. [35]

n = 824 (203 OC), any treatment

(2010–2012)

1.35 and 3.86 (three groups based on RPA)

- High NLR associated with inferior DSS

- Lower neutrophil number in p16 pos. Pts.

yes (125/824)

Selzer et al. [14]

n = 170 (74 OC), primary radio(chemo)therapy or radioimmunotherapy

(2002–2012)

5.0

- High NLR associated with inferior median OS (17 vs. 27 months)

no

Moon et al. [41]

n = 153 (51 OC), HNSCC prospective study

(2010–2012)

not described

- High NLR associated with inferior PFS (HR = 2.20) and OS (HR = 3.22)

no

Huang et al. [34]

n = 510, OC, radio(chemo)therapy

(2000–2010)

not applied (neutrophils and lymphocytes were analyzed separately)

- High neutrophils and low lymphocytes are associated with inferior prognosis

- Reduced neutrophil count and similar lymphocyte count in p16-pos. Pts.

yes (all)

Young et al. [42]

n = 249, OC, radio(chemo)therapy

(2004–2010)

5.0

- High NLR associated with inferior locoregional control (HR = 2.072)

no