Comparison of a Novel Blood-Based Hemato-Immune Response Score (HIRS) with IMDC and MSKCC Models in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Mustafa Ersoy11Department of Medical Oncology, Kütahya Health Sciences University, Kütahya, Türkiye
Objectives: Current prognostic models for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), such as IMDC and MSKCC, may inadequately capture immune–inflammatory dynamics. This study evaluated the predictive and prognostic utility of a novel Hemato-Immune Response Score (HIRS) in comparison with established models. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 35 patients (69 treatment episodes) with mRCC treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, or mTOR inhibitors between 2015 and 2024. HIRS was derived from routine hematologic and biochemical parameters, including neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts, hemoglobin, albumin, C-reactive protein, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, and derived inflammatory indices, and categorized into low- and high-HIRS groups using ROC/Youden analysis (cut-off: 0.11). Associations with objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed using logistic and Cox regression analyses. Results: High HIRS was independently associated with lower ORR (OR=0.31, 95% CI 0.12–0.78; p=0.018) and shorter PFS (HR=1.89, 95% CI 1.11–3.21; p=0.019). Median PFS was 11.1 months in the low-HIRS group and 5.3 months in the high-HIRS group (p=0.009). HIRS outperformed IMDC and MSKCC (0.70 vs 0.63 and 0.61), while the combined IMDC + HIRS model performed best (0.74). Conclusion: HIRS showed independent predictive and prognostic value in mRCC and improved risk discrimination when integrated with established clinical models. Keywords: Immunotherapy, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Treatment Outcome
Cite This Article
Ersoy M. Comparison of a Novel Blood-Based Hemato-Immune Response Score (HIRS) with IMDC and MSKCC Models in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. EJMI. 2026; 10(1): 18-24
Corresponding Author: Mustafa Ersoy