The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) is an independent predictor of overall survival in older patients with follicular lymphoma

• Published in: Leukemia & lymphoma Vol. 63; no. 4; pp. 903 - 910
• Main Authors: Mozas, Pablo, Rivero, Andrea, Rivas-Delgado, Alfredo, Nadeu, Ferran, Giné, Eva, Delgado, Julio, Villamor, Neus, Campo, Elías, Pérez-Galán, Patricia, Magnano, Laura, López-Guillermo, Armando
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 21.03.2022
• Subjects: Aged; chemoimmunotherapy; Follicular lymphoma; Humans; Lymphoma, Follicular - diagnosis; Lymphoma, Follicular - therapy; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Status; Prognosis; Prognostic Nutritional Index; response; Retrospective Studies; survival; Survival Rate; Follicular lymphoma; chemoimmunotherapy; Prognostic Nutritional Index; response; survival
• ISSN: 1042-8194; 1029-2403
• DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2021.2010064

The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), a parameter combining serum albumin concentration and absolute lymphocyte count, is considered a measure of the nutritional and inflammatory status and the host's anti-tumor response. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes according to the PNI of 351 grades 1-3 A FL patients. Forty-one patients (12%) had a PNI ≤45, who were older and showed adverse baseline features. A low PNI was associated with a shorter PFS (only for patients >60 years), and OS (for all patients, 10-year OS, 52% versus 74%, p = 0.0001). The prognostic impact of the PNI on OS was confirmed in a multivariate model for patients >60 years (HR = 3, p = 0.006). In conclusion, the PNI is a readily accessible piece of information that can identify a small subset of FL patients with shorter survival, and it could be an aid to improve the nutritional status of patients prior to treatment initiation.