Evaluating the Platelet Distribution Width-to-Plateletcrit Ratio as a Prognostic Marker for Patients With Breast Cancer

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate plateletcrit (PCT) and platelet distribution width-to-PCT ratio (PDW/PCT) as potential prognostic biomarkers in patients with breast cancer.

Patients and methods: Information of 337 patients was retrospectively reviewed. The Cox regression proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the prognostic value of PCT and PDW/PCT compared to the platelet distribution width-to-platelet count ratio (PDW/P) and red cell distribution width-to-platelet count ratio (RDW/P).

Results: Large tumor size (p<0.01), lymph node involvement, and increased PDW/P, RDW/P, and PDW/PCT (p<0.05) were significantly associated with inferior disease-free survival (DFS) according to the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis showed that large tumor size (p<0.01) and increased PDW/PCT (p<0.05) were significant prognostic factors for poor DFS.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report to show that PDW/PCT is a significant prognostic factor for patients with breast cancer. Therefore, it might be an attractive biomarker providing additional prognostic information for these patients.