Inflammatory Markers Predicting Pathological Complete Response in Cases with Breast Cancer Treated by Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Significance of the monocyte CCR2-CCL2 axis in triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The monocyte CCR2-CCL2 axis appears to play a crucial role in the generation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which subsequently promotes tumor metastasis and resistance to therapy.

AIMS

Our study assessed the monocyte CCR2-CCL2 axis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its ability to predict tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

METHODS

The study included 42 female patients diagnosed with TNBC and eligible for NAC. Response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was based on pathological complete response (pCR). Surface expression of CCR2 on monocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry. Circulating CCL2 was measured by Luminex X-Map technology.

RESULTS

Increased monocyte CCR2 expression and higher circulating CCL2 levels were observed in the patients with TNBC. After dividing the patients according to their response to NAC, a significant difference in CCL2 levels was found only between patients who achieved pCR and those who did not. ROC curves showed that the optimum diagnostic cut-off value of CCL2 ≤89.61 pg/mL better discriminated patients with TNBC who achieved pCR better than the Ki-67 index. Univariate analysis demonstrated that circulating. CCL2 ≤89.61 pg/mL was significantly associated with pCR. However, this correlation lost statistical significance in the multivariate model.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated the activation of the monocyte CCR2-CCL2 axis in TNBC for the first time. This activation occurs mainly in patients who do not respond to NAC. Circulating CCL2 levels ≤89.61 pg/mL were found to predict, to some extent, the achievement of pCR in patients with TNBC receiving NAC.

Inflammation-related biomarkers as predictors of pathological complete response in early-stage breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAT) represents an attractive option for improved outcomes of early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients, as it can significantly reduce tumor burden thus permitting breast-conserving resections. Equally important, the eradication of viable cancer cells post-NAT, also known as pathological complete response (pCR), has emerged as a strong prognostic biomarker, reflecting tumor's biology and subsequent treatment responses. Yet to date, no validated markers predictive of pCR have been identified.

METHODS

The present retrospective study aimed to explore the value of neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as potential predictors of pCR.

RESULTS

Despite no statistically significant associations have been reported, NLR and PLR dynamics during NAT, as longitudinal inflammatory phenotypes, merit further investigation in larger cohorts.

CONCLUSION

In the future, the integration of a comprehensive inflammatory biomarker panel into clinical practice could assist in a priori treatment selection process.

Predictive and Prognostic Value of Inflammatory and Nutritional Indexes in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Background and Objectives: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) improves survival by increasing pathologic complete response (pCR). Blood-based indexes have been studied in breast cancer for predicting pCR and prognosis, but the results are conflicting. We aimed to assess the impact of inflammatory and nutritional indexes on pCR and survival. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 304 patients. Pre-NAC laboratory data were used to calculate their neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR), pan-immune inflammation values (PIV), lactate dehydrogenase-albumin ratios (LAR), and prognostic nutritional indexes. The optimal cut-off values were determined through an analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to reveal the factors predicting pCR. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were conducted to identify prognostic factors predicting survival. Results: The median follow-up was 38.5 months. pCR was achieved in 41.4% of the patients. In the univariate analyses, the NLR (p = 0.032) and PIV (p = 0.002) were indexes associated with pCR. In the multivariate analysis, the PIV (p = 0.008) was the only index significantly correlated with pCR. According to the multivariate Cox regression analyses, clinical stage 3 (p = 0.032), a pathologic response other than pCR (p = 0.021), and a high LAR (≥4.72) (p = 0.002) were correlated with increased recurrence risk. The univariate Cox regression analyses revealed that failure to achieve pCR (p = 0.037) and the presence of a high LAR (p = 0.044) were significant predictors of overall survival. However, the multivariate analyses failed to identify any significant predictors of death. Conclusions: We found that the PIV was more effective than the other indexes in predicting pCR. To our knowledge, this study is the first to determine an association between the LAR and disease-free survival in patients with breast cancer receiving NAC. We concluded that a high LAR was a poor prognostic factor, especially in patients without a pCR. Therefore, close postoperative monitoring and the intensification of adjuvant treatment should be considered for these patients. However, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

The role of laboratory indices on treatment response and survival in breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced, high-risk breast cancer. Pathological complete response (pCR) improves survival. Peripheral blood-derived indices reflecting systemic inflammation and nutritional status have long been used as predictive and prognostic markers in solid malignancies. This retrospective study investigates whether eight commonly used indices in patients receiving NACT affect pCR and survival. This study includes 624 locally advanced breast cancer patients who received NACT. The biomarker indices were calculated from peripheral blood samples taken two weeks before starting chemotherapy. The indices' optimal cut-off values were determined using ROC Curve analysis. During a median follow-up period of 42 months, recurrence was detected in 146 patients, and 75 patients died. pCR was observed in 166 patients (26.6%). In univariate analysis, NLR, PLR, SII, PNI, HALP, and HRR were statistically significantly associated (p = 0.00; p = 0.03; p = 0.03; p = 0.02; p = 0.00; p = 0.02 respectively), but in multivariate analysis, only NLR was significantly predictive for pCR(p = 0.04). In multivariate analysis, the HGB/RDW score significantly predicted DFS(p = 0.04). The PNI score was identified as a marker predicting survival for both OS and PFS (p = 0.01, p = 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, peripheral blood-derived indices have prognostic and predictive values on pCR and survival. However, further studies are needed to validate our findings.

Prognostic Power of Nutrition-Inflammation Indicators in Patients With Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Inflammation and nutritional statuses are closely related to the survival of patients with cancer. Breast cancer is the one with low level of inflammation and low risk of malnutrition. Does inflammation burden and nutrition status affect the prognosis of patients with breast cancer?

METHODS

Totally 1158 patients with breast cancer from Nutrition Status and its Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers study were included, 15 nutrition-inflammation indicators (NIIs) from literatures were adopted in this study. Area under the curve and C-index were used to compare the predictive value of 15 NIIs in overall patients and subgroup in different menstrual statuses.

RESULTS

Nutrition status indicators prognostic nutritional index, controlling nutritional status score, glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio among 15 NIIs were found to be significantly associated with prognosis of breast cancer, and remained stable in patients in different menstrual statuses. The C-index of inflammation indicators lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio, lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio score, and C-reaction protein (CRP) increased with age, but the predictive value of 3 inflammation indicators did not exceed the value of nutritional indicators throughout the whole life of patients with breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Prognostic nutritional index, controlling nutritional status score, glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio had better predictive value for the survival of patients with breast cancer. Nutritional indicators surpassed inflammation indicators in prognostic ability for patients in different menstrual statuses. These results provide an important insight for the care of patients with breast cancer.

Correlation of serum NLR, PLR and HALP with efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation of blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and hemoglobin and albumin levels and lymphocyte and platelet counts (HALP) with the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and the prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, clinical data of 92 patients with TNBC were analyzed. The patients were treated with NAC in the Department of Gynecology of the People's Hospital of Zhuji from January 2015 to December 2018. According to treatment efficacy of NAC, patients were divided into a pathologic complete response (pCR) group (n=37) and a non-pathologic complete response (non-pCR) group (n=55). The pathological and clinical data of patients were collected, and the efficacy of NAC and influencing factors were statistically analyzed. The predicting performances of NLR, PLR and HALP for the efficacy of NAC in patients with TNBC were investigated. Patients were followed up for 3 years to obtain the all-cause mortality so as to analyze the correlation of NLR, PLR and HALP with survival time.

RESULTS

Multivariate regression analysis showed that TNM stage III (OR (95% CI): 1.742 (1.209-2.631), P=0.003), lymph nodes metastasis (OR (95% CI): 1.922 (1.492-2.983), P =0.005), high NLR (OR (95% CI): 2.261 (1.625-2.754), P<0.001), high PLR (OR (95% CI): 2.062 (1.692-2.791), P<0.001) and low HALP (OR (95% CI): 0.518 (0.365-0.734), P<0.001) were risk factors of poor NAC efficacy for TNBC. The mortality of patients in the non-pCR group was higher than that in the pCR group within 3 years (P<0.05). Survival analysis showed that the 3-year survival rate of the non-pCR group was lower than that of the pCR group (P<0.05). Furthermore, patients with high NLR, high PLR and low HALP had a lower 3-year survival rate than those with low NLR, low PLR and high HALP (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Lymph node metastasis, TNM stage III, high NLR, high PLR and low HALP are risk factors for the poor efficacy of NAC for TNBC. High expression of NLR, PLR and low expression of HALP may indicate a poor prognosis of TNBC patients who failed NAC.

Pathological Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Breast Cancer: The Relationship Between Inflammatory Biomarkers and Molecular Subtypes

Purpose

Among patients with breast cancer, pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is an important prognostic predictor of survival. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) along with overall pCR.

Method

A total of 150 patients with breast cancer who were first administered NAC and then operated on were retrospectively evaluated. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and PLR obtained from the complete blood count analysis performed immediately before NAC treatment were analyzed. The cut-off value was calculated as 150 for PLR and 2.24 for NLR. We studied the predictive value of NLR and PLR levels for the pathologic response of breast cancer to NAC.

Results

Pathological complete response was observed in 34.7% (n = 52) of the patients, pCR in the breast in 42.7% (n = 64), and that in the axilla in 44% (n = 66). There was a statistically significant difference between the pCR rates according to the PLR levels (p = 0.013). In addition, a statistically significant difference was found in the pCR rates in the breast and axilla according to PLR levels (p = 0.018, p = 0.009). Patients with low PLR in the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) group had significantly higher axillary pCR rates than in those with high PLR (p = 0.019).

Conclusions

A low PLR level showed high chemotherapy sensitivity independent of molecular subtypes in the treatment of breast cancer with NAC. The PLR level can serve as a predictive marker of the therapeutic effect of NAC on the breast and axilla. Low PLR levels in HER-2 enriched groups can predict pCR in the axilla.