The immune-modified Glasgow Prognostic Score, encompassing C-reactive protein, serum albumin, and lymphocyte count, is a valuable prognostic tool for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We aimed to assess the utility of immune-modified Glasgow Prognostic Score in predicting the treatment response to nivolumab in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Seventy-six patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab were included in this study. The imGPS was assessed before the initial nivolumab dose and four weeks after immune-modified Glasgow Prognostic Score.

Multivariable analysis identified four weeks after immune-modified Glasgow Prognostic Score as an adverse prognostic factor for progression-free and overall survival. The best overall response was significantly associated with four weeks after immune-modified Glasgow Prognostic Score. Remarkably, all patients with four weeks after immune-modified Glasgow Prognostic Score = 3 and 8 (80.0%) of 10 patients with four weeks after immune-modified Glasgow Prognostic Score = 2 experienced progressive disease.

The immune-modified Glasgow Prognostic Score proves valuable for predicting prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma undergoing nivolumab treatment, particularly excelling in identifying individuals unlikely to respond to nivolumab.