Simple Peripheral Blood Cell Parameters: Neutrophil/Lymphocyte, Platelet/Lymphocyte and Monocyte/Lymphocyte Ratios Do Not Determine Breast Cancer Subtypes

Abstract

Breast cancer is associated with different intrinsic biological subtypes, depending on immunohistochemical properties and gene expression patterns, and these subtypes play a determinant role in the treatment approach and clinical results. In the current study, the neutrophil–lymphocyte, platelet–lymphocyte and monocyte–lymphocyte ratios were evaluated as potential prognostic indicators of breast cancer types and subtypes. A retrospective evaluation of 243 patients was performed. Breast cancer subtypes were classified as luminal A, luminal B, HER2 and triple-negative subtypes. The luminal A subtype was ER positive and/or PR positive and HER2 negative and Ki-67 low. The luminal B subtype was ER positive and/or PR positive or negative and HER2 negative and Ki-67 high or ER positive and/or PR positive or negative and HER2 positive and any Ki-67. The HER2 subtype was ER and PR negative and HER2 positive. The triple-negative subtype was ER negative, PR negative and HER2 negative. Full blood count results were obtained before surgery, and the NLR, PLR and LMR values in breast cancer patients with different molecular subtypes were calculated. There was no significant difference between the NLR, LMR and PLR according to the breast cancer subtypes (luminal A, luminal B, HER2 and triple negative) (p = 0.83, p = 0.34 and p = 0.20). The present study found no significant correlation between pre-operative NLR, PLR and LMR values and tumour subtypes.