The Prognostic and Predictive Value of Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes and Hematologic Parameters in Patients with Breast Cancer

Overview

Journal BMC Cancer

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Oncology

Date 2018 Oct 5

PMID 30285668

Citations 75

Authors

Kwan Ho Lee

Eun Young Kim

Ji Sup Yun

Yong Lai Park

Sung-Im DO

Seoung Wan Chae

Chan Heun Park

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Carcinogenesis and tumor growth are associated with chronic inflammation and the host immune system. Here, we investigated the clinical significance and relationship between tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and hematologic parameters in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: Invasive ductal breast cancer patients (N = 145) who underwent surgery were retrospectively evaluated. Samples were obtained using a core needle biopsy for CD8+, FOXP3+ TIL assessment. Blood lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, and platelets were obtained by peripheral venous punctures.

Results: CD8 + TILs were significantly associated with absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and the absolute monocyte count (AMC). Low LMR (ALC/AMC) (cut-off - 5.3, range = 0.73-12.31) was associated with poor overall survival (OS) (p = 0.010), disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.005). However, in subgroup analysis, LMR did not have any value as a prognostic factor in HER2-positive breast cancers. TILs had different prognostic impacts across breast cancer subtypes, although they were not statistically significant. The treatment response after NAC tended to improve in breast cancer patients with high FOXP3+ TILs, low NLR (neutrophil count/ALC) (FOXP3 p for trend = 0.006, NLR p for trend = 0.063).

Conclusions: A relevance between TILs and hematologic parameters in breast cancer was demonstrated. The influence of the immune system on breast cancer progression may differ by subtype.

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