Pretreatment prognostic nutritional index as a prognostic marker in head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The predictive value of the pretreatment prognostic nutritional index (PNI) for head and neck cancer (HNC) remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the predictive value of PNI in HNC patients. A systematic search through internet databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for qualified studies estimating the association of PNI with HNC patient survival was performed. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) data were collected and evaluated. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled hazard ratios (pHRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 7815 HNC patients from 14 eligible studies were involved. Pooled analysis showed that low pretreatment PNI was correlated with poor OS (pHR: 1.93, 95% CI 1.62-2.30, p < 0.001), PFS (pHR: 1.51, 95% CI 1.19-1.92, p = 0.008), DSS (pHR: 1.98, 95% CI 1.12-3.50, p < 0.001), DFS (pHR: 2.20, 95% CI 1.66-2.91, p < 0.001) and DMFS (pHR: 2.04, 95% CI 1.74-2.38, p < 0.001). Furthermore, low pretreatment PNI was correlated with poor OS despite variations in the cancer site, sample size, PNI cut-off value, analysis method (multivariate analysis or univariate analysis) and treatment modality in subgroup analysis. Elevated pretreatment PNI is correlated with a superior prognosis in HNC patients and could be used as a biomarker in clinical practice for prognosis prediction and treatment stratification.

Automated summary

The pretreatment prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has controversial predictive value for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Low pretreatment PNI is associated with poor overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in HNC patients, regardless of variations in cancer site, sample size, PNI cut-off value, analysis method and treatment modality. Elevated pretreatment PNI is correlated with a better prognosis in HNC patients and could serve as a biomarker for prognosis prediction and treatment stratification in clinical practice.