A low lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio is independently associated with early relapse (POD24) in high tumour burden follicular lymphoma: A RELEVANCE subanalysis

Summary The peripheral blood lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) has been shown to predict outcomes in follicular lymphoma (FL). Among 1018 patients from the RELEVANCE trial (for previously untreated, high tumour burden FL), the median LMR was 2.5 (range, 0.3–93.5) and an LMR cut‐off of 2 was mostly associated with survival end‐points. Patients with an LMR ≤2 ( n = 372; 37%) were older and had higher risk disease. An LMR ≤2 was associated with a shorter progression‐free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.39, p = 0.002) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.44, p = 0.049). The association of the LMR with PFS was significant in the rituximab plus chemotherapy arm ( p = 0.01) and inconclusive in the rituximab plus lenalidomide arm ( p = 0.08). Within the three Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index risk categories, the LMR retained its association with PFS only in the low‐risk group ( p = 0.03). An LMR ≤2 was also associated with a higher risk of progression of disease within 24 months of treatment initiation (univariable odds ratio (OR) = 1.84, p < 0.001; multivariable OR = 1.58, p = 0.02). In conclusion, the LMR is an easily accessible parameter informative of outcomes in FL patients in need of treatment, being especially helpful in otherwise low‐risk patients. Whether the incorporation of immunomodulators such as lenalidomide will reduce its negative prognostic value needs to be further investigated.