Platelet–Lymphocyte Ratio as a Useful Predictor of the Therapeutic Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer

Abstract

BackgroundThe peripheral blood platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has been proposed as an indicator for evaluating systemic inflammatory responses in cancer-bearing patients. While some reports suggest a correlation between PLR and prognosis, few studies have examined the relationship between PLR and sensitivity to chemotherapy. We conducted a study on whether PLR could serve as a predictor of the therapeutic effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).MethodsPLR was evaluated in 177 breast cancer patients treated with the NAC 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide, followed by weekly paclitaxel and subsequent curative surgery. The correlation between PLR and prognosis, and between PLR and the efficacy of NAC, were evaluated retrospectively.ResultsThe low PLR group had significantly more patients > 56 years old (p = 0.001) and postmenopausal women (p = 0.001) than the high PLR group. The low PLR group also had a higher pathologic complete response (pCR) rate (p = 0.019). On examining the correlation with prognosis, the low-PLR group was found to have significantly longer disease-free survival (p = 0.004) and overall survival (p = 0.032) than the high PLR group. Multivariate analysis also revealed that lymph node metastasis (p = 0.043, hazard ratio = 4.40) and a high PLR (p = 0.005, hazard ratio = 2.84) were independent, unfavorable prognostic factors.ConclusionsFor patients with breast cancer treated with NAC, a low PLR indicated high chemotherapy sensitivity, suggesting that PLR could serve as a predictive marker of the therapeutic effect of NAC.

Platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio predicts the prognosis of patients with non‐small cell lung cancer treated with surgery and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy

“…Relationships between PLR and chemotherapy response rates have also been reported for some cancer patients 10, 11. However, the association between PLR and the prognosis of patients treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy as multidisciplinary treatment has not been investigated.…”

“…8,9 Relationships between PLR and chemotherapy response rates have also been reported for some cancer patients. 10,11 However, the association between PLR and the prognosis of patients treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy as multidisciplinary treatment has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between preoperative PLR values and the prognosis of patients with primary lung cancer treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.…”

<p>Predictive Value of Lymphocyte-Related Blood Parameters at the Time Point of Lymphocyte Nadir During Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer</p>

“…Various reports found a relationship between ALC, NLR and PLR and prognosis of breast cancer, most of the studies focusing on LRBP of baseline. [6][7][8][9][10] However, only a few studies focused on the impact of radiotherapy on LRBP in relation to prognosis. And in these research, time points of LRBP were artificial selection, and most of them were before or after radiotherapy.…”

“…[3][4][5] Lymphocyte-related blood parameters (LRBP), including absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), representatives of inflammatory factors, can reflect the immune system status. [6][7][8] Various reports found a relationship between ALC, NLR, and PLR and prognosis of breast cancer. [6][7][8][9][10] Most of the studies focused on baseline LRBP.…”

“…[6][7][8] Various reports found a relationship between ALC, NLR, and PLR and prognosis of breast cancer. [6][7][8][9][10] Most of the studies focused on baseline LRBP. Only a few studies focused on the impact of radiotherapy on LRBP in relation to the prognosis.…”