Clinical significance of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in malignant melanoma

Purpose Nutrition and inflammation play a crucial role in the development of cancer. The prognostic value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been confirmed in some types of human cancers. However, few studies are available indicating its prognostic power in patients with malignant melanoma (MM). Thus, we aimed to identify baseline peripheral blood biomarkers to predict the outcome of MM patients Material and methods Data of 101 patients with MM were evaluated retrospectively. Associations between clinical and histopathological parameters with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and compared by the log-rank test. The optimal cutoff values were determined by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and PNI were grouped based on a cutoff points 2.18, 547.1, and 40.1, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess their prognostic values for overall survival (OS). Results Lower NLR ( < 2.18), SII ( < 547.1) and higher PNI ( >= 40.1) were linked with a longer PFS and OS in patients with MM, as reflected in the Kaplan-Meier analyses. In univariate analysis, TNM stage, Breslow thickness, Clark stage, ulceration, Ki67 status, LDH, NLR, SII, and PNI were significantly associated with OS. Multivariate analysis identified TNM stage, ulceration, LDH and PNI as an independent predictor of OS in patients with MM. Conclusion PNI can be regarded as a novel independent prognostic factor for predicting OS in MM.