Associations between absolute neutrophil count and lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoon, Chang Ik; Park, Soeun; Cha, Yoon Jin; Lee, Hye Sun; Bae, Soong June; Cha, Chihwan; Lee, Da Young; Ahn, Sung Gwe; Jeong, Joon
• Is Part Of: Breast. Volume 50(2020)
• Page Start: 141
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte -- Absolute neutrophil count -- Lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer -- TIL; Breast -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Breast -- Tumors -- Periodicals; Breast -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2019.09.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-9776

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) might be associated with host-cell mediated immunity, which could be partly reflected by peripheral blood cell counts. In addition, lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer (LPBC), which was defined as tumors having high TIL levels, showed a favorable prognosis among triple-negative breast cancer or HER2-positive breast cancer. We aimed to investigate whether peripheral blood cell counts are associated with LPBC. Methods: We evaluated the percentage of stromal TILs in breast cancer patients who underwent primary surgery, using the standardized methodology proposed by the international TIL Working Group. Lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer (LPBC) was defined as tumors having high TIL levels (≥50%). Peripheral blood cell counts including absolute neutrophil counts (ANC), absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was obtained from pretreatment laboratory data. Result: Of the 810 patients, 132 (16.3%) had LPBC, and 678 (83.7%) had non-LBPC. In a comparison of 3 markers of peripheral blood counts, LPBC had a significantly lower mean ANC than non-LPBC (3, 304 vs. 3, 564; P = 0.023), but the other means were not different. In multivariable analysis, each 1K increment in ANC corresponded to an odds ratio of 0.790 (95% CI, 0.642 to 0.971) for LPBC. In the ER-negative and high-Ki67 subgroups identified by interaction tests, significant inverse correlations between continuous ANC and TILs were noted. Conclusion: Low peripheral ANC could be linked with LPBC, supporting the hypothesis that systemic immune cell counts might be associated with the tumor-immune microenvironment. Highlights: Tumor immune factors might be affected systemic immune cells. We found the relationship between ANC and TIL count. Increment in ANC corresponded to a less chance for LPBC. In the subgroups, inverse correlations between two markers were noted.