Research Article: Correlation between prognostic nutritional index and oral mucositis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated with almonertinib: a multicenter prospective study
Abstract:
Oral mucositis (OM) is a common adverse reaction to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), and severe cases can impair patient compliance and quality of life. The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) comprehensively reflects an individual’s nutritional and immune status and has been applied in lung cancer prognosis studies. However, its relationship with treatment-related OM associated with EGFR-TKI remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the correlation between PNI and the occurrence of OM in patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated with almonertinib.
This study is a multicenter, prospective observational study. From May 2025 to September 2025, 14,039 patients were assessed for eligibility on the unified platform; 537 met the eligibility criteria and had complete baseline data for analysis. Baseline clinical and laboratory data were collected, and PNI was calculated as 5?×?lymphocyte count (10 9 /L)?+?serum albumin (g/L). OM occurrence was assessed at three-week intervals and graded according to the WHO scoring systems. Independent associations between PNI and OM were evaluated using logistic regression, propensity score matching (PSM), restricted cubic splines (RCS), and subgroup analyses.
During follow-up, 14.5% of patients developed OM. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that for each 1-unit increase in PNI, the risk of OM decreased by approximately 1.4% (OR?=?0.986, 95% CI: 0.972–1.000). Trend analysis results indicate that patients with high PNI levels exhibit a significantly reduced risk of developing OM ( P for trend < 0.01). The RCS model suggested a linear negative correlation between PNI and OM. Subgroup analysis results were robust, though interactions were observed across different clinical stages.
Low PNI levels are independently associated with a significantly increased risk of OM. As a simple, cost-effective, and readily accessible indicator, PNI holds promise as a valuable tool for early risk stratification and personalized management in patients with EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma, providing guidance for optimizing targeted therapy throughout the treatment journey.
Introduction:
Lung cancer ranks among the most prevalent and deadly malignant tumors globally and in China. In 2022, approximately 2.48 million new cases were diagnosed worldwide, accounting for 12.4% of all new cancer diagnoses, with about 1.82 million deaths—representing 18.7% of all cancer-related fatalities ( 1 ). In China, lung cancer has long ranked first in both incidence and mortality rates among malignant tumors, with approximately 820,000 new cases and 710,000 deaths annually ( 2 ). Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)…
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