Table 3.
Changes in CRP, Albumin, Hemoglobin, and NLR levels, before and after pembrolizumab administration.
| Best of response | ||||||
| Variables | CR | PR | SD | PD | p | |
| Number | 23 | 30 | 33 | 74 | ||
| Before pembrolizumab administration | ||||||
| CRP, <0.63 mg/dL | 19 (82.6) | 18 (60.0) | 17 (51.5) | 26 (35.1) | 0.001 | |
| CRP, ≥0.63 mg/dL | 4 (17.4) | 12 (40.0) | 16 (48.5) | 48 (64.9) | ||
| Albumin, <3.7 g/dL | 6 (26.1) | 11 (37.9) | 16 (48.5) | 44 (59.5) | 0.024 | |
| Albumin, ≥3.7 g/dL | 17 (73.9) | 18 (62.1) | 17 (51.5) | 30 (40.5) | ||
| Hemoglobin, <10.6 g/dL | 6 (26.1) | 14 (46.7) | 16 (48.5) | 40 (54.8) | 0.122 | |
| Hemoglobin, ≥10.6 g/dL | 17 (73.9) | 16 (53.3) | 17 (51.5) | 33 (45.2) | ||
| NLR, <4.89 | 19 (82.6) | 21 (70.0) | 28 (84.8) | 51 (68.9) | 0.243 | |
| NLR, ≥4.89 | 4 (17.4) | 9 (30.0) | 5 (15.2) | 23 (31.1) | ||
| After pembrolizumab administration | ||||||
| CRP, <0.67 mg/dL | 20 (90.9) | 23 (79.3) | 18 (58.1) | 15 (25.0) | <0.001 | |
| CRP, ≥0.67 mg/dL | 2 (9.1) | 6 (20.7) | 13 (41.9) | 45 (75.0) | ||
| Albumin, <3.7 g/dL | 5 (21.7) | 8 (27.6) | 13 (40.6) | 40 (64.5) | <0.001 | |
| Albumin, ≥3.7 g/dL | 18 (78.3) | 21 (72.4) | 19 (59.4) | 22 (35.5) | ||
| Hemoglobin, <10.0 g/dL | 0 (0) | 6 (20.7) | 12 (37.5) | 22 (36.1) | 0.004 | |
| Hemoglobin, ≥10.0 g/dL | 23 (100.0) | 23 (79.3) | 20 (62.5) | 39 (63.9) | ||
| NLR, <3.24 | 18 (81.8) | 19 (65.5) | 16 (51.6) | 24 (40.0) | 0.004 | |
| NLR, ≥3.24 | 4 (18.2) | 10 (34.5) | 15 (48.4) | 36 (60.0) | ||
CR, complete response; PR, partial response; SD, stable disease; PD, progressive disease; CRP, C-reactive protein; NLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.