Background/aim: It has been difficult to establish prognostic markers for overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC). Although systemic immune markers were reported as prognostic markers in several cancers, their utility in ABC remains unclear.
Patients and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 331 ABC patients, who received treatment at Fukuyama City Hospital between April 2009 and December 2020.
Results: Patients with high absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and high lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) had significantly longer OS (p=0.025, p=0.010, and p<0.001, respectively). High ALC and high LMR were independently associated with longer OS (p=0.020 and p=0.015, respectively). High ALC was also independently associated with longer time to treatment failure (p=0.014).
Conclusion: These systemic immune markers at diagnosis can predict not only a better OS but also a better TTF after first-line treatment.
Keywords: Advanced breast cancer; absolute lymphocyte count; lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; prognostic marker.
Copyright 2021, International Institute of Anticancer Research.