Patients with different cancer types are stratified by CBC data

Abstract

Searching for informative indices indicating cancer type and cause of the disease is of great importance. Here we tried to identify those indices from the data of complete blood analysis, only. We studied the inhomogeneity in the mutual distribution of a number of oncology patients with various types of tumors in the space of qualitative data provided by the complete blood count. The patients with oncology in hematology system were excluded. Ultimate goal is to reveal the relation between such inhomogeneity issues and the cause of a disease. We used the database on complete blood count comprising oncology patients with various causes of tumor development. The analysis has been carried out both by linear (K-means) and non-linear (elastic map technique) methods. No linear clustering has been found. On the contrary, elastic map technique yields stable clustering identifying not less than three clusters, in the set of patients. No relation of those clusters to sex or age of patients has been found. Four indices (namely, BAS, EOS, WBC and IG) exhibit no relation to the cluster structure, while all others do it. Thus, the patients are stratified according to their respond on the stress caused by cancer tumor. The data on complete blood count may be used for preliminary diagnostics of a tumor and its cause, for oncology patients. This type of analysis is cheap, standard and available at any medical organization.