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Annals of Surgical Oncology
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology 4/2016

Open Access 01-04-2016 | Breast Oncology

Predictive Value of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio for Efficacy of Preoperative Chemotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Authors: Yuka Asano, MD, Shinichiro Kashiwagi, MD, PhD, Naoyoshi Onoda, MD, PhD, Satoru Noda, MD, PhD, Hidemi Kawajiri, MD, PhD, Tsutomu Takashima, MD, PhD, Masahiko Ohsawa, MD, PhD, Seiichi Kitagawa, MD, PhD, Kosei Hirakawa, MD, PhD

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 4/2016

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Abstract

Background

The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reportedly associated with prognosis in cancer patients by influencing both cancer progression and chemosensitivity. However, the correlation between NLR and the outcome of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients remains unclear.

Methods

NLR was evaluated in 177 patients with breast cancer treated with NAC with 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide, followed by weekly paclitaxel and subsequent curative surgery. The correlation between NLR and prognosis, including the efficacy of NAC, was evaluated retrospectively.

Results

NLR ranged from 0.5 to 10.6. Fifty-eight patients with low NLR (<3.0) had a higher pathological complete response (pCR) rate (p < 0.001) and were more frequently diagnosed with ER-negative/progesterone receptor (PR)-negative/HER2-negative (triple-negative) breast cancer (TNBC; p < 0.001) compared with patients with high NLR (≥3.0). Among TNBC patients who achieved pCR, disease-free survival (p = 0.006) and overall survival (p < 0.001) were significantly longer in patients with low NLR than in those with high NLR. Low NLR was associated with a significantly favorable prognosis in TNBC patients who achieved pCR, according to univariate analysis (p = 0.044, hazard ratio = 0.06).

Conclusions

Low NLR may indicate high efficacy and favorable outcome after NAC in patients with TNBC.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Predictive Value of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio for Efficacy of Preoperative Chemotherapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors
Yuka Asano, MD
Shinichiro Kashiwagi, MD, PhD
Naoyoshi Onoda, MD, PhD
Satoru Noda, MD, PhD
Hidemi Kawajiri, MD, PhD
Tsutomu Takashima, MD, PhD
Masahiko Ohsawa, MD, PhD
Seiichi Kitagawa, MD, PhD
Kosei Hirakawa, MD, PhD
Publication date
01-04-2016
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-4934-0

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