Prognostic Value of Post First-Line Chemotherapy Glasgow Prognostic Score in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

BACKGROUND: The Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) is an established inflammatory prognostic index in cancer patients. Most studies have only measured GPS at baseline (B-GPS). Effective cancer therapy may reduce inflammation, and we investigated whether re-assessing GPS after first-line chemotherapy (E-GPS) provided more prognostic information than B-GPS in a phase III trial of advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Glasgow prognostic score was assessed before and after carboplatin/vinorelbine chemotherapy. When assessing GPS, C-reactive protein (CRP) ⩾ 10 mg/L and albumin < 35 mg/L are defined as abnormal values. GPS 0: both values normal, GPS 1: one abnormal value, and GPS 2: both values abnormal. RESULTS: Glasgow prognostic score at baseline and E-GPS were available in 138 patients. Median age was 67 years, 51% were women, and 94% had performance status 0-1. B-GPS was not a statistically significant prognostic factor (B-GPS 1 vs 0: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.9-2.0; B-GPS 2 vs 0: HR = 1.46, 95% CI = 0.9-2.3), while E-GPS was (E-GPS 1 vs 0: HR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.0-2.4; E-GPS 2 vs 0: HR = 2.77, 95% CI = 1.7-4.5). E-GPS was associated with treatment response (P < .01), whereas B-GPS was not. CONCLUSION: Glasgow prognostic score at baseline after first-line chemotherapy provided more prognostic information than baseline GPS in patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC and was associated with treatment response. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02004184.