The prognostic value of preoperative neoindices consisting of lymphocytes, neutrophils and albumin (LANR) in operable breast cancer: a retrospective study

PeerJ. 2024 May 15:12:e17382. doi: 10.7717/peerj.17382. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Background: Preoperative inflammatory factors and nutritional status are strongly associated with the prognosis of a variety of cancers. We explored the relationship between preoperative lymphocytes, neutrophils and albumin (LANR) and progression-free survival in breast cancer patients.

Methods: The clinical and follow-up data of 200 breast cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed in this study, and the value of LANR was determined as follows: LANR, lymphocytes × albumin/neutrophils. ROC curves, COX proportional risk regression analysis and subgroup analysis were used to assess the prognostic value of LANR in progression-free survival of breast cancer patients.

Results: The median age of the patients was 55.5 years (range 50-62 years). The median follow-up time was 46 months (range 33-55 months). In progression-free survival, the area under the LANR curve was 0.748 and the HR (95% CI) was 0.035 (0.679-0.817). LANR was associated with age (p = 0.02), positive axillary lymph nodes (p < 0.001), TNM stage (p < 0.001) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(p = 0.004). The results indicated that preoperative LANR may be a reliable predictor of progression-free survival in patients with operable breast cancer.

Conclusion: LANR may be an essential predictor for breast cancer patients and provides a therapeutic basis for clinicians and patients.

Keywords: Albumin; Breast cancer; Lymphocytes; Neutrophils; Prognosis; Progression-free survival.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes* / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes* / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutrophils* / metabolism
  • Neutrophils* / pathology
  • Preoperative Period
  • Prognosis
  • Progression-Free Survival
  • ROC Curve
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Serum Albumin / analysis
  • Serum Albumin / metabolism

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Top Talent Support Program for Young and Middle-aged people of Wuxi Health Committee (BJ2020047), the Mading the Taihu Lake Talent Plan (4532001THMD), and the Beijing Bethune charitable Foundation (2022-YJ-085-J-Z-ZZ-011). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.