Evaluation of some systemic inflammatory biomarkers in canine malignant mammary tumors

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate whether neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) parameters could be used as biomarkers for canine malignant mammary tumors (MMTs), and the changes in these parameters according to different tumor (T), lymph node (N), and metastasis (M) stages (TNM I-II-III, TNM IV, TNM V) and the number of affected mammary glands (single, multiple). Thirty-seven with MMT and 20 healthy dogs were used in this study. Complete blood count and biochemistry analysis were performed in all dogs. Tumor material is removed by tru-cut and sent to the pathology laboratory for diagnosis. NLR, PLR, and SII values increased, and LMR and PNI values decreased in dogs with MMT. Median NLR values increased and median LMR and PNI values decreased as the TNM stage progressed. In dogs with a single MMT, median NLR, and PLR values were found to be lower than in dogs with multiple MMTs, and median LMR, SII, AGR, and PNI values were higher. The present results indicated that NLR, LMR, PLR, SII, and PNI parameters could be used as biomarkers for canine MMT. Also, NLR, LMR, PLR, SII, PNI, and AGR parameters may be valuable biomarkers that reveal the degree of systemic immune response according to different TNM stages and the number of affected mammary glands.

Keywords

• canine
• malignant mammary tumor
• inflammation
• biomarkers
• oncology