A high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio are associated with a worse outcome in inflammatory breast cancer
C. Van Berckelaer,
M. Van Geyt,
S. Linders,
C. Rypens,
X.B. Trinh,
W.A.A. Tjalma,
S. Van Laere,
C. Colpaert,
L. Dirix,
P.A. van Dam
Affiliations
C. Van Berckelaer
Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals & CORE, MIPRO, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, Unit Gynaecologic Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) (Belgium), Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy, Oncology (MIPRO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium; Corresponding author. Translational Cancer Research Unit, CORE, University of Antwerp Oosterveldlaan 24 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
M. Van Geyt
Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, Unit Gynaecologic Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) (Belgium), Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy, Oncology (MIPRO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
S. Linders
Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, Unit Gynaecologic Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) (Belgium), Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy, Oncology (MIPRO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
C. Rypens
Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals & CORE, MIPRO, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
X.B. Trinh
Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, Unit Gynaecologic Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) (Belgium), Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy, Oncology (MIPRO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
W.A.A. Tjalma
Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, Unit Gynaecologic Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) (Belgium), Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy, Oncology (MIPRO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
S. Van Laere
Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals & CORE, MIPRO, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
C. Colpaert
Department of Pathology, UZA, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium
L. Dirix
Translational Cancer Research Unit, GZA Hospitals & CORE, MIPRO, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Oncology, GZA Hospitals Sint-Augustinus, Antwerp, Belgium
P.A. van Dam
Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic, Unit Gynaecologic Oncology, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) (Belgium), Molecular Imaging, Pathology, Radiotherapy, Oncology (MIPRO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium
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.
