Clinical Evaluation of Dynamic Monitoring of Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and Platelet-to-lymphocyte Ratios in Primary Endocrine Therapy for Advanced Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: The utility of peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (PLRs) as prognostic predictors of surgery and chemotherapy in breast cancer has been reported. In this study, NLRs and PLRs were calculated before treatment and during cancer progression in primary hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (HRBC) patients who chose endocrine therapy (ET) as the primary treatment, and prognostic prediction and factor analysis were performed.

Patients and methods: A total of 55 patients diagnosed with stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV HRBC who received ET as the primary treatment were included.

Results: Increased NLRs were found to significantly contribute to a shorter overall survival from cancer progression (OS-CP) (p=0.040, log-rank). Increased PLRs were similarly associated with a shorter OS-CP (p=0.036, log-rank). In multivariate analysis, an increased NLR was an independent prognostic factor (p=0.035, hazard ratio(HR)=5.221).

Conclusion: Changes in NLRs and PLRs become prognostic indicators when the therapeutic effect of ET is limited.

Keywords: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; advanced breast cancer; endocrine therapy; overall survival; platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio.