# Prognostic Impact of the Pretreatment Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that the CONUT score, a blood test reflecting nutrition and immune health, can predict survival in anaplastic thyroid cancer patients.

## Contribution

The study establishes the CONUT score as a novel prognostic marker for anaplastic thyroid cancer.

## Key findings

- Higher CONUT scores are linked to increased 1-year mortality in anaplastic thyroid cancer patients.
- The CONUT score improves risk stratification when added to baseline prediction models.
- CONUT score ≥ 3 is an independent predictor of 1-year mortality.

## Abstract

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy with poor survival outcomes. Simple and reliable markers that can predict prognosis are essential for guiding clinical decision-making. In this retrospective study, we assessed the prognostic value of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, a blood test–based index reflecting both nutritional and immune function. We compared its predictive performance with other commonly used nutritional indices. We found that patients with higher CONUT scores, indicating impaired nutritional and immune status, had a significantly increased risk of 1-year mortality. These findings suggest that incorporating immuno-nutritional assessment, particularly the CONUT score, into routine evaluation may improve early risk stratification and support more personalized approaches in both clinical care and future research for this challenging cancer.

Background/Objectives: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is an aggressive thyroid cancer subtype with a poor prognosis. The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, reflecting both immune and nutritional status, is a prognostic marker in several malignancies; however, its utility in ATC has not been established. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the pretreatment CONUT score in ATC and compare its prognostic utility with that of other nutritional indices, including the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and survival outcomes of 156 patients with ATC at our institution between January 2004 and May 2024. Based on survival analysis, patients were categorized into low- and high-risk groups based on each nutritional index (CONUT score, PNI, GNRI) using optimal cut-off values. One-year survival differences were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank test. Independent predictors of 1-year mortality were identified using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: Optimal thresholds were 3, 42, and 102 for the CONUT score, PNI, and GNRI, respectively. Patients with CONUT scores ≥ 3 exhibited significantly higher 1-year mortality, compared with those with scores < 3. Multivariable analysis revealed that CONUT score ≥ 3, PNI ≤ 42, and GNRI ≤ 102 were independently associated with increased 1-year mortality risk. Incorporation of CONUT score ≥ 3 into the baseline prediction model significantly enhanced its discriminatory performance. Conclusions: These findings underscore the prognostic value of pretreatment immuno-nutritional assessment and support the integration of the CONUT score into early risk stratification strategies for patients with ATC.