Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy can effectively downstage tumors and reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence and distant metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we investigated the correlation between inflammatory biomarkers and tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) expression. We also compared the predictive values of these inflammatory parameters, TLSs, and a combination of inflammatory parameters and TLSs for neoadjuvant efficacy in patients with NSCLC. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical information of 106 patients with NSCLC who underwent neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy and radical surgery at Shandong Cancer Hospital between June 2020 and June 2022. RESULTS: TLS was evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemically-stained tissue sections. Logistic analysis was performed to determine the correlation between inflammatory parameters, TLSs, and the factors affecting major pathological response (MPR). Receiver operating characteristic curves and the C-index were used to evaluate the predictive value of the nomogram models for MPR. The systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) was an independent predictor of high TLS abundance and maturity. Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) ≤201.8, TLS abundance, and TLS maturity were independent predictors of MPR. The PLR-TLS combined model performed better in assessing the MPR in patients with NSCLC than models using single indicators. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that the SII is an independent predictor of both TLS abundance and maturity. Both TLSs and PLR can predict MPR rates in patients with NSCLC receiving neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy. However, assessing the MPR in patients with NSCLC using a combination of PLR and TLSs is more accurate than using either indicator alone.