Role of peripheral blood parameters (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-to-monocyte and neutrophil-to-monocyte ratios) in breast cancer

Abstract

Background: Nowadays, the role of inflammation in malignancies is well understood, and it has been characterised at several phases of tumourigenesis (initiation, promotion, invasion and metastasis). Different studies suggested that the neutrophils/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is linked with breast cancer (BC) survival and prognosis. Aim: In the present study, our aim was to study the blood parameters (neutrophils, lymphocytes, NLR, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio [LMR] and neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio [NMR]) in BC. We examined the correlation between white blood cells, NLR, LMR, NMR and BC. Materials and Methods: It was a case–control study, which included 97 individuals, in which 44 were confirmed BC patients by histopathological examination and 53 were healthy controls. Their personal and social status information were collected in questionnaire form. Results: The mean neutrophil count was higher in the case group as compared to the control group (65.45 ± 5.92/68.67 ± 9.13, P = 0.001). Lymphocyte count was significantly lower in the case group as compared to the control group (26.25 ± 8.78 vs. 29.79 ± 5.14, P = 0.00). NLR was higher in the case group as compared to the control group, 3.03 ± 1.36 versus 2.35 ± 1.02, P = 0.00. The monocyte level was significantly higher in BC patients as compared to the control group, i.e. 2.80 ± 0.79 versus 2.66 ± 1.07, P = 0.01, in the case group. The LMR was 13.55 ± 7.21 in the control group and 10.35 ± 5.57, P = 0177, in the case group. NMR was significantly higher in the control group as compared to the case group (30.42 ± 17.02 vs. 26.53 ± 8.50, P = 0.002). Conclusions: Low NMR value can be related to a greater survival rate. We concluded that complete blood count, NLR and NMR can be an alternative marker in BC risk.

Keywords

• breast cancer
• complete blood count
• lymphocyte
• neutrophils
• neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio