Publication
Title
A high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio are associated with a worse outcome in inflammatory breast cancer
Author
Abstract
Introduction Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an uncommon, but aggressive form of breast cancer that accounts for a disproportionally high fraction of breast cancer related mortality. The aim of this study was to explore the peripheral immune response and the prognostic value of blood-based biomarkers, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), in a large IBC cohort. Patients & methods We retrospectively identified 127 IBC patients and collected lab results from in-hospital medical records. The differential count of leukocytes was determined at the moment of diagnosis, before any therapeutic intervention. A cohort of early stage (n = 108), locally advanced (n = 74) and metastatic breast cancer patients (n = 41) served as a control population. Results The NLR was significantly higher in IBC compared to an early stage breast cancer cohort, but no difference between IBC patients and locally advanced breast cancer patients was noted. In the metastatic setting, there was also no significant difference between IBC and nIBC. However, a high NLR (>4.0) remained a significant predictor of worse outcome in IBC patients (HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.24–1.00; P = .05) and a lower platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (≤210) correlated with a better disease-free survival (DFS) (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.28–0.93; P = .03). Conclusion Patients with a high NLR (>4.0) have a worse overall prognosis in IBC, while the PLR correlated with relapse free survival (RFS). Since NLR and PLR were not specifically associated with IBC disease, they can be seen as markers of more extensive disease.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The Breast. - Edinburgh
Publication
Edinburgh : 2020
ISSN
0960-9776
DOI
10.1016/J.BREAST.2020.08.006
Volume/pages
53 (2020) , p. 212-220
ISI
000573862600029
Pubmed ID
32890963
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
The role of infiltrating immune cells in the aggresive phenotype of inflammatory breast cancer and possible new (immuno)therapeutic targets.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 16.09.2020
Last edited 02.01.2025
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