PulseExploreJournal ClubDebatesTrendingResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeExploreJournal ClubTrending
Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
April 4, 2026JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery0 citations

Body Mass Index and Nutritional Status With Immunotherapy Response in Head and Neck Cancer

View Full Paper
LGLauren G. GabraANAlejandra NitschYWYifei Wang

Key Points

  • This research aims to explore the relationship between nutritional status and immunotherapy response in patients with head and neck cancer.
  • Analyzed a large, nationally representative cohort of patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
  • Evaluated pretreatment BMI loss and peripheral nutritional index (PNI) in relation to progression-free survival (PFS).
  • Compared dynamic nutritional measures to static measures of baseline BMI.
  • Pretreatment BMI loss and low PNI were independently linked to worse progression-free survival.
  • Baseline BMI was not found to be predictive of progression-free survival.
  • Dynamic measures of nutrition provide better prognostic insights than static measures.

Abstract

In this large, nationally representative cohort of patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with immunotherapy, pretreatment BMI loss and low PNI were independently associated with PFS, while baseline BMI was not. These findings suggest that dynamic measures of nutrition and immune status provide more meaningful prognostic information than static measures. Nutritional optimization may represent a modifiable factor to improve outcomes in patients receiving immunotherapy for advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Gabra et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69d0afb4659487ece0fa5cadhttps://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2026.0166
Ask AI
Helpful
Bookmark
Share
View Full Paper

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) correlates with survival in head and neck cancer patients more precisely than other nutritional markers – real world data2024 · 4 citations
  2. 2Prognostic Nutritional Index as a Predictor of Treatment-Related Toxicity in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemoradiotherapy2026
  3. 3Prognostic impact of CT-defined sarcopenia and prognostic nutritional index in immune checkpoint inhibitor–treated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis2026 · 3 citations
  4. 4Prospective nutritional status and body mass composition assessment in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.2024
  5. 5Potential of Nutritional Markers as Predictors After Immunotherapy in Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma2024 · 4 citations