Correlations of peripheral blood inflammatory and immune-related indicators with clinicopathological features and prognosis in breast cancer patients

Objective To investigate correlations of peripheral blood inflammatory and immune-related indices with clinicopathological features and prognosis in breast cancer patients.

Methods A total of 144 breast cancer patients admitted to the Breast Surgery Department of Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Tongzhou District of Beijing were included in cancer group, 44 patients with atypical breast hyperplasia were included in precancerous lesion group, and 131 patients with breast hyperplasia were included in breast hyperplasia group. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) were compared among the three groups. A three-year follow-up was conducted for prognosis assessment. Based on different NLR, PLR, and LMR levels, the cancer group was divided into low NLR group (< 2.12, 67 patients), high NLR group (≥2.12, 77 patients), low PLR group (< 133.21, 65 patients), high PLR group (≥133.21, 79 patients), low LMR group (< 5.05, 80 patients), and high LMR group (≥5.05, 64 patients). The correlations of NLR, PLR, and LMR with clinicopathological features and prognosis in breast cancer patients were analyzed.

Results NLR in the cancer group was higher than that in the precancerous lesion group and breast hyperplasia group, the PLR was higher than that in the breast hyperplasia group, and the LMR was lower than that in the breast hyperplasia group (P < 0.05). NLR and PLR in the precancerous lesion group were higher and LMR was lower than those in the breast hyperplasia group (P < 0.05). PLR between patients with different menopausal statuses and Ki-67 levels showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). LMR between patients with different menopausal status also showed a statistically significant difference(P < 0.05). After a three-year follow-up, 5 patients in the cancer group had a poor prognosis and 139 had a good prognosis. Poor prognosis rates between the low NLR and high NLR groups, low PLR and high PLR groups, and low LMR and high LMR groups showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis

Results indicated that increased NLR and PLR were risk factors for poor prognosis in cancer patients, while increased LMR was a protective factor.

Conclusion Peripheral blood inflammatory and immune-related indicators in breast cancer patients exhibit abnormal changes. Increased NLR and PLR are risk factors for poor prognosis, while increased LMR is a protective factor.