Prognostic Value of Lymphocyte-associated Inflammatory Markers in Breast Cancer

Objective  To explore the correlation of pretreatment NLR, LMR and PLR with clinical characteristics and prognosis of breast cancer patients.

Methods  We retrospectively analyzed the data of 189 patients with breast cancer. ROC curve was used to obtain the optimal cutoff values of NLR, LMR and PLR. The patients were divided into two groups according to the cutoff values, and the correlation between NLR, LMR, PLR and clinical characteristics and prognosis was analyzed.

Results  The optimal cutoff values of NLR, LMR and PLR were 2.4, 5.4 and 113, respectively. There was statistical significant difference in neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery between the high and low levels of NLR groups (all P < 0.05). There was no statistical significant difference in clinical characteristics between the high and low levels of LMR groups, as well as the high and low levels of PLR groups (all P > 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that PR expression, TNM clinical stage, NLR, LMR, PLR, surgery and endocrinotherapy were related to OS (all P < 0.05); HER2 expression, TNM clinical stage, NLR, surgery and endocrinotherapy were associated with PFS (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that TNM clinical stage (P=0.003) and NLR (P=0.033) were independent risk factors for OS; TNM clinical stage (P=0.002) and surgery (P=0.040) were independent prognostic factors for PFS.

Conclusion  Pretreatment NLR, LMR and PLR are significantly correlated with the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Only NLR is an independent risk factor, however, LMR and PLR are not yet independent prognostic factors.