Association Between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Recurrence in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients

Christian Sihite; Raden Yohana; Putie Hapsari; Kiki Lukman; Kiki Ahmad Rizki; Euis Maryani

doi:10.15850/ijihs.v14n1.4743

Authors

Christian Sihite General Surgery Department, Padjadjaran University, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6438-0693 (unauthenticated)
Raden Yohana Oncology Surgery Department, Padjadjaran University, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia
Putie Hapsari General Surgery Department, Padjadjaran University, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia
Kiki Lukman General Surgery Department, Padjadjaran University, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia
Kiki Ahmad Rizki Oncology Surgery Department, Padjadjaran University, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia
Euis Maryani General Surgery Department, Padjadjaran University, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15850/ijihs.v14n1.4743

Keywords:

Biomarker, Inflammation, Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio, Recurrence Breast Cancer, Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive form of cancer, characterized by a high recurrence rate and a poor prognosis. The lack of widely accessible predictive biomarkers, such as PD-L1, poses a challenge in predicting recurrence. This study aimed to describe the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), an indicator of systemic inflammation, as a potential prognostic biomarker for recurrent TNBC because it is simple, inexpensive, and can be performed in different healthcare facility settings.

Objective: To study the NLR pattern in TNBC stage 2 and identify the association between NLR and recurrence.

Methods: This cohort retrospective study obtained data from the medical records of TNBC patients treated at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia. Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) values and recurrence status were analyzed in 56 consecutive cases.

Results: There was a significant correlation between NLR values and recurrence events in patients with TNBC. Patients with recurrence had higher NLR values (3.83 ± 2.39) compared to those without recurrence (1.81 ± 0.57). The highest NRL value in the recurrence group reached 11.14. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: NLR has the potential to serve as a simple and effective predictive biomarker for identifying the risk of recurrence in TNBC patients. The use of NLR may provide an initial alternative in determining prognosis and guiding patient follow-up strategies, especially in healthcare facilities with limited access to biomolecular tests such as PD-L1.