Significant Association Between Low Baseline Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Improved Progression-free Survival of Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer Treated With Eribulin But Not With Nab-Paclitaxel

The prognostic value of absolute lymphocyte count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for patients with metastatic breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is considered a potential prognostic marker in early breast cancer. However, the prognosis of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and NLR in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has been reported in a few studies, and conclusions are still conflicting. This present manuscript aims to provide further solid evidence regarding the prognostic values of ALC and NLR in MBC patients.

Method

Eligible studies that reported the associations between ALC or NLR and MBC were included by searching relative electronic databases. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were used as outcome measures. The hazard ratio (HR) values and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the outcome measures were collected as effect sizes, and further analysis and discussion were conducted according to the pooled HR, subgroup analysis, publication bias, and interstudy heterogeneity.

Results

Twenty-nine studies comprising 3,973 patients with MBC were included. According to our findings, lower ALC was significantly associated with poorer prognosis of OS (HR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.68) and PFS (HR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.79), and greater NLR was associated with poorer OS (HR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.67) and PFS (HR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.42 to 2.35). Furthermore, the prognostic values of ALC and NLR in MBC were also observed in the subgroup analyses regarding cutoff values and ethnicities.

Conclusion

Low ALC and elevated NLR were observed to be significantly associated with adverse OS and PFS in MBC, indicating that ALC and NLR may act as potential prognostic biomarkers of MBC patients. Meanwhile, our results will also provide some novel evidence and research clues for the selection and development of clinical treatment strategies for MBC patients.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42021224114.

Monitoring trends in the absolute lymphocyte count and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with breast cancer receiving eribulin

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are related to the outcomes in patients with breast cancer receiving specific chemotherapies. However, the reports have focussed on the initial blood test and there is a lack of evidence or data to support that dynamic changes of ALC or NLR are associated with the patients' survival outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records from patients with breast cancer treated with eribulin from 2015 to 2019 at our institution. Blood test data were available prior to starting eribulin (baseline), and at 1, 3 and 6 months after initiating eribulin. We classified the patients into ALC and NLR high and low groups using the following cut-offs: 1000/µl for ALC and 3 for NLR. We defined ALC and NLR trends as increasing or decreasing compared with the initial data. We assessed the associations between the ALC and NLR with progression-free survival and overall survival.

RESULTS

There were 136 patients with breast cancer treated with eribulin. Of these patients, 60 had complete blood tests and follow-up data. Neither a high ALC nor a low baseline NLR was associated with the survival outcome. One month after initiating eribulin treatment, a high ALC and a low NLR were significantly associated with longer progression-free survival (p = 0.044 for each). Three months after initiating eribulin, a high ALC was significantly associated with better overall survival (p = 0.006). A high NLR at 3 or 6 months after initiating eribulin was associated with worse overall survival (p = 0.017 and p = 0.001, respectively). The ALC and NLR trends across times were not associated with survivals.

CONCLUSION

We showed that 1, 3 and 6 months after initiating eribulin, a high ALC and a low NLR may be related to the patients' survival outcomes. The ALC and NLR trends were not associated with survival. Accordingly, we believe patients who maintain a high ALC and a low NLR may have better clinical outcomes after initiating eribulin.

Comprehensive prognostic prediction of metastatic breast cancer treated with eribulin using blood‑based parameters and ratio

Eribulin is widely used to treat metastatic breast cancer (BC). Higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are associated with higher mortality in several cancer types. However, the association between BC prognosis and peripheral immune status remains controversial. In the present study, the relative effects of NLR and PLR on survival in patients with metastatic BC were quantified and their clinical prognostic value was evaluated. This retrospective study included 156 patients with metastatic BC who received eribulin monotherapy at Saitama Medical University International Medical Center. Clinicopathological features were examined (peripheral blood findings and biochemical liver and kidney function test results) and univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted of the overall survival (OS). The 156 patients treated with eribulin had a median follow-up duration of 18.3 months. Before eribulin treatment, patients with absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC) >1,500/µl, NLR <3.0, and PLR <150 had significantly longer OS than those with lower ALC, and higher NLR and PLR (median OS, 25.5 vs. 15.5 months; P<0.01; 20.3 vs. 13.6 months, P<0.01; and 29.2 vs. 14.8 months; P<0.001, respectively). Patients with anemia [hemoglobin (Hb) <10 g/dl] or liver dysfunction [albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade 2/3] had significantly shorter OS than those without (P<0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed low ALBI grade (P<0.001), high Hb (P<0.01) and low PLR (P<0.05) as independent factors of longer OS after eribulin administration. Low PLR, anemia and liver dysfunction might be factors associated with prolonged OS in patients with metastatic BC on eribulin therapy, which could be clinically useful, as their evaluation requires neither new equipment nor invasive testing.

Ratios of monocytes and neutrophils to lymphocytes in the blood predict benefit of CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment in metastatic breast cancer

Biomarkers to identify metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients resistant to CDK4/6 inhibition (CDK4/6i) are currently missing. We evaluated the usefulness of the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as predictive markers for de novo resistance to CDK4/6i. Various blood cell counts and MLR, NLR, PLR were recorded before treatment initiation (baseline) and four weeks later from 97 mBC patients receiving endocrine therapy (ET) alone or in combination with CDK4/6i. Binary blood cell count/ratios (mean = cut-off) were related to outcome using Cox regression. High MLR (p = 0.001) and high NLR (p = 0.01) at baseline significantly correlated with a shorter progression-free survival (PFS) in the CDK4/6i cohort, independent of any other clinical parameter as determined by multivariate Cox regression. Both, high MLR (p = 0.008) and high NLR (p = 0.043) as well as a decrease in PLR after four weeks of CDK4/6i first line treatment (p = 0.01) indicated a shorter overall survival. Moreover, decreasing PLR (p = 0.043) and increasing mean corpuscular volume (MCV; p = 0.011) within the first cycle of CDK4/6i correlated with a shorter PFS and decreasing MLR (p = 0.039) within the first cycle of first-line CDK4/6i was also correlated with shorter PFS. In summary, easily assessable blood cell parameter were shown to have predictive, monitoring and prognostic value and thus, could, in future, be used for individualized CDK4/6i therapy management. Most importantly, the imbalance of NLR and MLR at baseline might serve as predictive marker for de novo resistance to CDK4/6i in mBC patients.

Baseline interleukin-6 is a prognostic factor for patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with eribulin

PURPOSE

Eribulin is a unique anti-cancer drug which can improve overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), probably by modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of serum levels of immune-related and inflammatory cytokines in patients treated with eribulin. Furthermore, we investigated the association between cytokines and immune cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and cytotoxic and regulatory T cells, to explore how these cytokines might affect the immune microenvironment.

METHODS

Sixty-eight patients with MBC treated with eribulin were recruited for this retrospective study. The relationship of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, to progression-free survival and OS was examined. CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte, MDSCs and regulatory T cell levels were determined in the blood by flow cytometry analysis.

RESULTS

In our cohort, patients with high IL-6 at baseline had shorter progression-free survival and OS compared with those with low IL-6 (p = 0.0017 and p = 0.0012, respectively). Univariable and multivariable analyses revealed that baseline IL-6 was an independent prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.0058). Importantly, CD8+ lymphocytes were significantly lower and MDSCs were significantly higher in patients with high IL-6, compared to those with low IL-6.

CONCLUSION

Baseline IL-6 is an important prognostic factor in patients with MBC treated with eribulin. Our results show that high IL-6 is associated with higher levels of MDSCs which suppress anti-tumor immunity, such as CD8+ cells. It appears that eribulin is not particularly effective in patients with high IL-6 due to a poor tumor immune microenvironment.

Eribulin is an immune potentiator in breast cancer that upregulates human leukocyte antigen class I expression via the induction of NOD-like receptor family CARD domain-containing 5

Eribulin inhibits microtubule polymerization and improves the overall survival of patients with recurrent metastatic breast cancer. A subgroup analysis revealed a low neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (<3) to be a prognostic factor of eribulin treatment. We thus hypothesized that eribulin might be related to the immune response for breast cancer cells and we analyzed the effects of eribulin on the immune system. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression was increased in clinical samples after eribulin treatment. In vitro assays revealed that eribulin treatment increased HLA class I expression in breast cancer line cells. RNA-sequencing demonstrated that eribulin treatment increased the expression of the NOD-like family CARD domain-containing 5 (NLRC5), a master regulator of HLA class I expression. Eribulin treatment increased the NY-ESO-1-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) transduced T (TCR-T) cell response for New York oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1) overexpressed breast cancer cells. The eribulin and TCR-T combined therapy model revealed that eribulin and immunotherapy using TCR-T cells has a synergistic effect. In summary, eribulin increases the expression of HLA class 1 via HLA class 1 transactivatior NLRC5 and eribulin combination with immunotherapy can be effective for the treatment of breast cancer.

Predictive Significance of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

Peripheral blood inflammation indices, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), have become research hotspots in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis prediction of breast cancer, whereas existing research findings remain controversial.

Methods

Data pertaining to 1808 breast cancer patients were collected retrospectively to analyze the predictive value of NLR/PLR/SII for breast cancer clinicopathological characteristics, chemotherapy response, and relapse. 1489, 258, and 53 eligible breast cancer patients entered into the three analyses, respectively. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the correlation between these indices and poor response to chemotherapy. A predictive scoring model was established to predict chemotherapeutic responses based upon the odds ratio values of significant variables identified in logistic regression analyses.

Results

Higher pretherapeutic NLR/PLR/SII values were significantly correlated with higher tumor stage, triple-negative breast cancer, premenopausal status, and younger age. Logistic regression analyses indicated that pretherapeutic high SII (as a continuous variable or with a cut-off value of 586.40) and HER2-negative status were independent predictors of poor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A first-in-class SII-based predictive scoring model well distinguished patients who might not benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with an area under the curve of 0.751. In HR-positive cancers, SII was more strongly associated with clinicopathological features and chemotherapy response. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the specificity of follow-up SII in identifying cancer relapse was greater than 98.0% at a cut-off value of 900.

Conclusion

As a predictor of breast cancer, especially in the HR-positive subtype, SII may eclipse NLR/PLR. SII-high patients are more likely to have a worse chemotherapy response and a higher risk of recurrence.

Predictive factors for response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: inflammatory and immune markers in triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) predict response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. However, the TIL level can be determined at a few facilities. By contrast, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are easily and objectively determined from the results of full blood counts. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate whether TILs, NLR, and PLR predict NAC efficacy and whether NLR and PLR could be surrogate markers for TILs in TNBC.

METHODS

Of the 266 patients diagnosed with TNBC between 2013 and 2019, 66 who underwent radical surgery after sequential administration of anthracycline and taxane as NAC were included in the study. TILs, NLR, and PLR were evaluated as predictors of pathologic complete response (pCR) using cutoff values determined from receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS

The cutoff values of TILs, NLR, and PLR were 20%, 2.6, and 180, respectively. High TIL level was associated with low NLR (P = 0.01) and low PLR (P = 0.01). High TIL level (odds ratio [OR] 4.28 [95% CI 1.40-13.1]; P = 0.01), low NLR (OR 5.51 [95% CI 1.60-18.9]; P = 0.01), and low PLR (OR 3.29 [95% CI 1.13-9.57]; P = 0.03) were associated with pCR. Low NLR predicted pCR independently (OR 6.59 [95% CI 1.45-30.0]; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

TILs, NLR, and PLR predicted NAC efficacy against TNBC. TIL level was associated with NLR and PLR. NLR was an independent predictive factor and may be a useful surrogate marker for TILs when predicting pCR.

Therapeutic efficacy of a four-year treatment with eribulin in a patient with uterine leiomyosarcoma: A case report

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a gynecological malignancy with an extremely poor prognosis. Multiple new therapeutic agents, including pazopanib, trabectedin, and eribulin, have been clinically applied to treat uterine LMS, and their therapeutic effects are expected. We encountered one patient with advanced recurrent uterine LMS who achieved a partial response to a four-year treatment with eribulin. A 31-year-old woman was diagnosed with stage 2B LMS. After the first recurrence, Gemcitabine, Docetaxel (GD) therapy was administered, and complete response (CR) was achieved. However, 2 years and 10 months later, recurrence occurred at the vaginal cuff, and GD therapy and doxorubicin hydrochloride were administered, resulting in CR. Five months later, she experienced another recurrence at the same location and was treated with eribulin. To date, 53 courses of eribulin have been administered and are currently ongoing. Maintaining low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and low platelet-to lymphocyte ratio in this manner is considered to be one of the reasons why eribulin continues to be effective. We encountered a rare case in which eribulin was administered for the longest period of time, and produced an observable effect in uterine LMS.

The prognostic importance of glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio and uric acid in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with Cdk 4/6 inhibitors

Aim: To demonstrate the prognostic importance of glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio (GLR) and uric acid (UA) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) receiving Cdk 4/6 inhibitors. Materials & methods: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, GLR, UA and CA15-3 were analyzed to assess their prognostic value using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis in 101 patients with MBC, retrospectively. Results: Importantly, both progression-free survival and overall survival were shorter in the group with high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), GLR and UA. In the multivariate analysis, GLR and UA levels were independent prognostic factors for both progression-free survival and overall survival. Conclusion: In patients with MBC, GLR and UA are independent factors that predict survival times.

Prognostic Value of Pretreatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

This study aimed to examine the prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and other clinicopathological features in HER2+ MBC patients who received first-line anti-HER2 therapy. A total of 129 patients were assigned to NLR-low and NLR-high groups based on a cutoff value of 3.0 at baseline. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and gene mutations in circulating tumor DNA were analyzed by flow cytometry and Next-generation sequencing, respectively. Survival was evaluated by the Kaplan−Meier method and Cox regression analysis. Of the 129 patients, 77 and 52 were assigned to the NLR-low (≤3) and NLR-high (>3) groups, respectively. Compared with NLR-high patients, the NLR-low patients had significantly longer median progression-free survival (PFS) (11.7 vs. 7.7 months) (p = 0.001, HR = 2.703 95% CI 1.543−4.736 and overall survival (OS) (37.4 vs. 28.7 months) (p = 0.044, HR = 2.254 95% CI 1.024−4.924). Furthermore, this association was independent of metastatic sites or estrogen receptor status. Peripheral blood CD3+ (p = 0.034) and CD4+ (p = 0.010) T cell numbers were significantly higher in the NLR-low group than the NLR-high group. The mutational profile of MBC was generally similar between the two groups. Baseline NLR was a prognostic factor of PFS and OS for patients with HER2+ MBC in the first-line setting. These results may facilitate the selection of patients who will benefit most from anti-HER2 treatment.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic factor for patients with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer treated using capecitabine: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Eribulin or capecitabine monotherapy is the next cytotoxic chemotherapy option for patients with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer who have previously received an anthracycline or a taxane. However, it is unclear what factors can guide the selection of eribulin or capecitabine in this setting, and prognostic factors are needed to guide appropriate treatment selection. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a prognostic factor for eribulin-treated patients, although it is unclear whether it is a prognostic factor for capecitabine-treated patients. Therefore, we analysed the ability of the NLR to predict oncological outcomes among patients who received capecitabine after previous anthracycline or taxane treatment for breast cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer who had previously received anthracycline or taxane treatment at the National Cancer Center Hospital between 2007 and 2015. Patients were included if they received eribulin or capecitabine monotherapy as first-line, second-line, or third-line chemotherapy. Analyses of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were performed according to various factors.

RESULTS

Between 2007 and 2015, we identified 125 eligible patients, including 46 patients who received only eribulin, 34 patients who received only capecitabine, and 45 patients who received eribulin and capecitabine. The median follow-up period was 19.1 months. Among eribulin-treated patients, an NLR of <3 independently predicted better OS. Among capecitabine-treated patients, an NLR of <3 independently predicted better PFS but not better OS. In addition, a lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio of ≥5 was associated with better PFS and OS.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate whether the NLR is a prognostic factor for capecitabine-treated patients with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer. However, the NLR only independently predicted PFS in this setting, despite it being a useful prognostic factor for other chemotherapies.

Eribulin improved the overall survival from the initiation of first-line chemotherapy for HER2-negative advanced breast cancer: a multicenter retrospective study

Background

Eribulin methylate (eribulin) improved the overall survival (OS) of eribulin-treated patients with HER2-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC) in prospective and retrospective studies. However, the effect of eribulin on OS as first-line chemotherapy and the characteristics of the patients who benefited from eribulin remain unclear.

Methods

Between January 2011 and December 2016, 301 patients with HER2-negative ABC who started first-line chemotherapy at 3 institutions were retrospectively evaluated for OS from the initiation of first-line chemotherapy.

Results

We identified 172 patients (119 estrogen receptor-positive [ER+], 47 ER−, 6 unknown) who received eribulin (eribulin group) and 129 patients (92 ER+, 31 ER−, 6 unknown) who did not receive eribulin (non-eribulin group). The median OS from the initiation of first-line chemotherapy in the two groups was not statistically significant (869 vs. 744 days, P = 0.47, log-rank); however, in patients who received eribulin in later lines (≥3rd-line) and who had a history of perioperative chemotherapy with anthracycline- and/or taxane-based regimens, the median OS improved (1001 vs. 744 days, P = 0.037; and 834 vs. 464 days, respectively P = 0.032, respectively; Wilcoxon). Multivariate analyses revealed that a history of perioperative chemotherapy with anthracycline- and/or taxane-based regimens was a predictive factor (hazard ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.21–0.70) for OS.

Conclusions

This study successfully identified subgroups of HER2− ABC patients with improved OS by eribulin therapy. Selecting patients according to their background and line of treatment will maximize the efficacy of eribulin therapy.

Systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) as a predictive factor for overall survival in advanced soft tissue sarcoma treated with eribulin

BACKGROUND

Eribulin is a tubulin and microtubule-targeting drug that has clinical benefit in overall survival (OS) for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Eribulin's efficacy has been confirmed in several clinical trials, although no clinically useful biomarkers have been identified. We therefore sought to clarify the predictive factor of eribulin treatment, while focusing on systemic inflammation and immune response values.

METHODS

This study included 33 advanced STS patients treated with eribulin between March 2016 and September 2019. We evaluated the associations of clinical factors influencing the efficacy of eribulin treatment and systemic inflammatory and immune response, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and the prognostic nutrition index (PNI), with progression-free survival (PFS) and OS using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test.

RESULTS

NLR, LMR, PLR, SIRI, and PNI were unassociated with PFS. Compared with patients with SIRI <1.5, those with an SIRI ≥1.5 had a significantly shorter OS [median OS 15 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 8-not reached) vs. 7 months (95% CI 3-14), P = 0.04]. Moreover, the PFS tended to be shorter for patients with SIRI ≥1.5 who received chemotherapy after eribulin treatment than in those with SIRI >1.5 [median PFS 92.5 days (95% CI 27-204) vs. 133 days (95% CI 36-507), P = 0.08].

CONCLUSIONS

High SIRI values may predict poorer overall survival and the efficacy of subsequent drugs after eribulin treatment among patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

Prognostic and predictive factors of eribulin in patients with heavily pre-treated metastatic breast cancer

A predictive marker for efficacy of eribulin administered as different lines of treatment in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has not been identified. We aimed to determine the predictive factors for efficacy of eribulin administered as different lines of treatment in MBC patients.This restrospective cohort study included 49 heavily pre-treated MBC patients who received either eribulin monotherapy or combination therapy with eribulin and anti-Her2 therapy. Associations between clinical response of eribulin-based treatment, time-to-treatment failure (TTF), and possible predictive markers were investigated.Patients' median age was 55 years; 65% were ER+; 43% were HER2+; and 16% were triple-negative. Median TTF was 5.23 months and longer in non-visceral metastases patients. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status was 0-1; eribulin as ≥2nd-line treatment; eribulin combined with dual blockades; lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) ≥3; and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) <0.4. In patients with eribulin as >3rd-line treatment, univariate analysis showed that ECOG status was 0-1, and LMR ≥3 and MLR <0.4 were associated with a low risk of TTF. Multivariate analysis showed that ECOG status 0-1 was an independent protective factor. Leukopenia and neutropenia were the most common manageable adverse events.ECOG status is an independent predictor for TTF, while LMR and MLR may have an interactive effect with other biomarkers (e.g., ECOG status) to predict response in MBC patients receiving eribulin as ≥2nd-line treatment.

Prediction of survival after eribulin chemotherapy for breast cancer by absolute lymphocyte counts and progression types

Background

In the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors (RECIST) diagnostic criteria, the concepts of progression by preexisting disease (PPL) and progression by new metastases (PNM) have been proposed to distinguish between the progression types of cancer refractory to treatment. According to the tumor biology of cancer progression forms, the “PPL” form indicates invasion, and the “PNM” form indicates metastasis. On the other hand, recent studies have focused on the clinical importance of inflammatory markers as indicators of the systemic tumor immune response. In particular, absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) is an indicator of the host’s immune response. Thus, we developed a new measure that combined progression form with ALC. In this study, we clinically validated the combined assessment of progression form and ALC in eribulin chemotherapy.

Methods

From August 2011 to April 2019, a total of 486 patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC) underwent treatment. In this study, only 88 patients who underwent chemotherapy using eribulin were included. The antitumor effect was evaluated based on the RECIST criteria, version 1.1. To measure ALC, peripheral blood samples collected before eribulin treatment were used. The cut-off value for ALC in this study was 1500/μl, based on previous studies.

Results

The PPL group (71 patients, 80.7%) had significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.022, log-rank) and overall survival (OS) (p < 0.001, log-rank) than the PNM group (17 patients, 19.3%). In the 51 patients with ALC < 1500/μl, the PPL group had a significantly better prognosis than the PNM group (PFS: p = 0.035, OS: p < 0.001, log-rank, respectively). On the other hand, in the 37 patients with ALC ≥ 1500/μl, the PPL group had a better OS compared with the PNM group (p = 0.055, log-rank), but there was no significant difference in PFS between the two groups (p = 0.541, log-rank). Furthermore, multivariate analysis that validated the effect of OS showed that high ORR and “high-ALC and PPL” were factors for a good prognosis (p < 0.001, HR = 0.321; p = 0.036, HR = 0.290).

Conclusions

The progression form of PNM had a worse prognosis than PPL in patients treated with eribulin. In breast cancer patients with eribulin chemotherapy, good systemic immune status, such as ALC ≥ 1500/μl, was associated with less progression, particularly metastasis, and better prognosis. Furthermore, the biomarker “high-ALC (ALC ≥ 1500/μl) and PPL” was particularly useful as a prognostic marker following eribulin chemotherapy.

Absolute Lymphocyte Count, Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Overall Survival in Eribulin-treated HER2-negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND/AIM

To investigate the utility of peripheral blood biomarkers - absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) - for predicting outcomes in eribulin-treated patients with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

ALC, NLR, and PLR were retrospectively obtained from pre-treatment blood sampling results of 120 patients and stratified according to means. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association of clinicopathological factors, including these values, with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

The ALC, NLR, and PLR cut-off points were 1,285/μl, 3.3, and 235, respectively. No biomarkers were associated with PFS. However, univariate analysis showed ALC (p=0.044) and PLR (p=0.044) to be significantly associated with OS.

CONCLUSION

ALC and PLR can predict eribulin efficacy in terms of OS, reflecting the antitumour immune response in the microenvironment and indicating eribulin's effectiveness.

The Systemic Immune Markers at Diagnosis Can Predict the Survival Benefit in Advanced Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

It has been difficult to establish prognostic markers for overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC). Although systemic immune markers were reported as prognostic markers in several cancers, their utility in ABC remains unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 331 ABC patients, who received treatment at Fukuyama City Hospital between April 2009 and December 2020.

RESULTS

Patients with high absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), low neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and high lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) had significantly longer OS (p=0.025, p=0.010, and p<0.001, respectively). High ALC and high LMR were independently associated with longer OS (p=0.020 and p=0.015, respectively). High ALC was also independently associated with longer time to treatment failure (p=0.014).

CONCLUSION

These systemic immune markers at diagnosis can predict not only a better OS but also a better TTF after first-line treatment.

The effect of chronic viral hepatitis on prognostic value of inflammatory biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Inflammation and the immune system significantly impact the development, progression, and treatment response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This retrospective study investigated the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a prognostic biomarker in Western patients with HCC in the setting of chronic viral hepatitis.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with HCC from 2005 to 2016 were selected from a tertiary care institution. NLR was calculated within 30 days prior to treatment and dichotomized at the median. Kaplan-Meier overall survival (OS) curves and Cox hazard proportional models were utilized. Tumor and liver reserve parameters were included in multivariable analyses (MVA).

RESULTS

A total of 581 patients met inclusion criteria (median age 61.0 yr; 78.3% male; 66.3% Caucasian) with median OS = 34.9 mo. 371 patients (63.9%) had viral hepatitis, of which 350 had hepatitis C (94.3%). The low-NLR group (

CONCLUSIONS

Lower baseline NLR was associated with increased overall survival in HCC. Viral hepatitis serves as an effect modifier of NLR, attenuating its prognostic relevance in this hepatitis C-predominant population.

Collapse

Key Words

• carcinoma
• hepatitis C
• hepatocellular
• inflammation
• lymphocytes
• neutrophils

Collapse

MESH Headings

• Aged
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/mortality
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/virology
• Female
• Hepatitis C, Chronic/blood
• Hepatitis C, Chronic/epidemiology
• Hepatitis C, Chronic/immunology
• Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology
• Humans
• Inflammation/blood
• Inflammation/diagnosis
• Inflammation/immunology
• Inflammation/virology
• Kaplan-Meier Estimate
• Liver Neoplasms/blood
• Liver Neoplasms/immunology
• Liver Neoplasms/mortality
• Liver Neoplasms/virology
• Lymphocyte Count
• Lymphocytes/immunology
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neutrophils/immunology
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors

Collapse

Grants

• UL1 TR001863 NCATS NIH HHS
• CA160741 U.S. Department of Defense
• U.S. Department of Defense

Collapse

Affiliation(s)

Cortlandt M. Sellers Section of Interventional RadiologyDepartment of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA Department of RadiologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTXUSA
Johannes Uhlig Section of Interventional RadiologyDepartment of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA Department for Diagnostic and Interventional RadiologyUniversity Medical Center GoettingenGoettingenGermany
Johannes M. Ludwig Section of Interventional RadiologyDepartment of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and NeuroradiologyUniversity Hospital EssenUniversity of Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
Jeffrey S. Pollak Section of Interventional RadiologyDepartment of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
Tamar H. Taddei Section of Digestive DiseasesDepartment of Internal MedicineYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
Stacey M. Stein Section of Medical OncologyDepartment of Internal MedicineYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA Yale Cancer CenterYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
Joseph K. Lim Section of Digestive DiseasesDepartment of Internal MedicineYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
Hyun S. Kim Section of Interventional RadiologyDepartment of Radiology and Biomedical ImagingYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA Section of Medical OncologyDepartment of Internal MedicineYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA Yale Cancer CenterYale University School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA

Collapse

Role of Systemic Inflammatory Reaction in Female Genital Organ Malignancies - State of the Art

Systemic inflammatory reaction (SIR) is an unfavorable prognostic factor in many malignancies and has a role in all stages of the neoplastic process: initiation, promotion, and disease progression. Analysis of SIR can be performed by assessing indicators (eg, lymphocyte-to-neutrophil, platelet-to-lymphocyte, and monocyte-to-neutrophil ratios) and products of neutrophils and lymphocytes (ie, the systemic immune-inflammation index), or by examining the relationship between levels of C-reactive protein and albumin (based on the Glasgow Prognostic Score, modified Glasgow Prognostic Score, and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio). Risk stratification is essential in the clinical management of cancer; hence, the evaluation of these factors has potential applications in the clinical management of patients with cancer and in the development of new therapeutic targets. This review summarizes the current knowledge on SIR indicators and presents their clinical utility in malignancies of the female genital organs.

Systemic immunity markers associated with lymphocytes predict the survival benefit from paclitaxel plus bevacizumab in HER2 negative advanced breast cancer

Although paclitaxel plus bevacizumab (PB) therapy is an effective chemotherapeutic regimen for HER2-negative advanced breast cancer (ABC), predictive markers for its effectiveness remain undefined. We investigated the usefulness of systemic immunity markers associated with lymphocytes as predictive markers for PB therapy in patients with HER2-negative ABC. We retrospectively reviewed data from 114 patients with HER2-negative ABC who underwent PB therapy from November 2011 to December 2019. We calculated the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) as representative systemic immunity markers. The time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS) of the patients with high ALC, low NLR, and high LMR were significantly longer compared with those of the patients with low ALC, high NLR, and low LMR. A multivariable analysis revealed that high ALC, low NLR, and low PLR were independent predictors for TTF and high ALC, low NLR, and high LMR were independent predictors for OS. Systemic immunity markers were significantly associated with longer TTF and OS in patients who underwent PB therapy and may represent predictive markers for PB therapy in patients with HER2-negative ABC.

Indices of peripheral leukocytes predict longer overall survival in breast cancer patients on eribulin in Japan

Background

It was reported that eribulin regulates the tumor microenvironment, including the immune system, by inducing vascular remodeling. Lymphocyte counts are a critical index of immune response in patients. The non-Asian, global EMBRACE study has suggested that baseline absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) may be a predictor of the survival benefit of eribulin in breast cancer patients. We examined whether the baseline ALC is a potential predictor of overall survival (OS) in Japanese patients with HER2-negative advanced breast cancer treated with eribulin.

Methods

This was a post hoc analysis of data from a post-marketing observational study of eribulin in Japan. The OS by baseline ALC was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, with the cut-off value of 1500/μL for ALC. The OS by baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a general prognostic index in breast cancer patients, was also estimated, with the cut-off value of 3.

Results

The median OS was longer in patients with an ALC of ≥ 1500/μL than in those with an ALC of < 1500/μL (19.4 vs. 14.3 months; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.628; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.492, 0.801). Patients with an NLR of ≥ 3 showed shorter OS than those with an NLR of < 3 (13.2 vs. 18.8 months; HR: 1.552; 95% CI 1.254, 1.921), and NLR also separated OS in patients with an ALC of < 1500/μL.

Conclusions

Consistent with the findings of a previous study involving a non-Asian, Western population, our study suggested that baseline ALC may be a predictive factor for the survival benefit of eribulin in Japanese patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12282-021-01232-1.

Clinical Utility of Eribulin Mesylate in the Treatment of Breast Cancer: A Chinese Perspective

Eribulin mesylate, a synthetic derivative of the anti-mitotic agent halichondrin B, has a unique tubulin-based mechanism of action that is distinct from other anti-microtubule agents including taxanes and vinca alkaloids. Consistent with this unique activity, eribulin has shown clinical efficacy in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) that progressed following prior taxane and anthracycline therapy. The evidence presented in this review indicates that eribulin represents a treatment option for patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Improved survival outcomes and better tolerability compared with vinorelbine supported the first approval of eribulin in China in 2019; eribulin was approved for women with locally advanced/metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer after treatment failure with at least two chemotherapy regimens, including an anthracycline and a taxane. Eribulin has also shown promising efficacy in patients with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer when used in combination with trastuzumab or pertuzumab, and subgroup analyses from the Phase III clinical trials support the continued evaluation of eribulin in patients with triple-negative disease. The unique non-mitotic effects of eribulin, including vascular remodeling, coupled with its clinical efficacy and safety profile, may permit the broader use of this agent in patients with MBC.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts early mortality in females with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the utility of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a biomarker for predicting early-mortality (<2 years) among females with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC).

METHODS

We reviewed 118 medical records of females with mTNBC. The cut-off value for the NLR (<2.5 and ≥2.5) was determined with receiver operating characteristic curves (area under the curve: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.62-0.85). Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the Log-rank test. Multivariate Cox regression was used to identify the risk of mortality at two years. Moreover, we performed sensitivity analyses with different cut-off values and a subgroup analysis in females that only received chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 24 months. Females with NLR ≥2.5 had a poor overall survival compared to females with NLR <2.5 (6% vs. 28%, p<0.001) at two years. This outcome remained when we stratified for females that only received chemotherapy (8% vs. 36%, p = 0.001). Multivariate analyses identified NLR ≥2.5 as a poor prognostic risk factor for mortality in the entire population (HR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.32-3.39) and among females that received chemotherapy (HR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.46-4.92).

CONCLUSION

The NLR is an accessible and reliable biomarker that predicts early mortality among females with mTNBC. Our results suggest that females with high NLR values have poor prognosis despite receiving standard chemotherapy. Health providers should evaluate the possibility to enroll these patients in novel immunotherapy trials.

A Rosetta Stone for Breast Cancer: Prognostic Value and Dynamic Regulation of Neutrophil in Tumor Microenvironment

Increasing evidence has revealed that the initiation and progression of breast cancer are greatly affected by the immune environment. Neutrophils are the most abundant leucocytes in circulation and act as the spearhead in inflammation, including in breast cancer. Circulating neutrophils are closely related to the prognosis of breast cancer patients, and tumor-infiltrating neutrophils have varied functions at different stages of breast cancer, such as antitumor or tumor-promoting neutrophils, which are termed N1 and N2 neutrophils, respectively. In this review, we will discuss the utility of circulating neutrophils for predicting prognosis and therapeutic efficacy and the underlying mechanisms of their chemotaxis, the dynamic regulation of their antitumor or protumor functions and their different spatial distributions in tumor microenvironment. Finally, we also discuss the possibility of targeting neutrophils as a therapeutic strategy in breast cancer.

Utility of the Absolute Lymphocyte Count and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio for Predicting Survival in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer on Eribulin: A Real-World Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies have suggested that the efficacy of eribulin is influenced by the activity of antitumor immunity of patients. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are easily available parameters associated with the immunological status of patients.

OBJECTIVE

Here we tried to classify patients' immunological status by using the scatter plot of ALC and NLR, and investigated its utility for predicting survival among patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving eribulin.

METHODS

The medical records of 125 patients who received eribulin for metastatic breast cancer at our hospital between July 2011 and April 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the association between baseline ALC/NLR and progression-free survival (PFS)/overall survival (OS). The cutoff values for ALC and NLR were determined using scatter plot analysis.

RESULTS

The entire cohort was classified into immunologically favorable (ALC ≥1,500/µL, 30 patients), intermediate (ALC <1,500/µL, NLR <5.0, 76 patients), and unfavorable (NLR ≥5.0, 19 patients) groups. Univariate analysis showed significant differences in PFS and OS between the groups, whereas multivariate analysis revealed that ALC ≥1,500/µL and NLR ≥5.0 were independent predictors of PFS, with adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) of 0.57 (0.33-0.99) and 1.78 (1.00-3.15), respectively. NLR ≥5.0 was also associated with worse OS (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.55; 95% CI 0.35-0.88; p = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving eribulin, survival outcomes were well stratified according to baseline peripheral blood ALC and NLR. Accordingly, high ALC and NLR can be used as predictive markers for longer disease control and worse survival, respectively.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as Prognostic and Predictive Factor in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

Inflammatory blood markers (IBM), such as the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), have emerged as potential prognostic factors in various cancers, including breast cancer (BC), potentially allowing an easy, minimally invasive evaluation of a given cancer's prognosis and treatment outcome. We report here a systematic overview of the published data evaluating NLR as a prognostic factor or predictive factor for pathological complete response (PCR) and toxicity in early and advanced BC. A total of 45 articles were identified. NLR was found to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in most of the adjuvant treatment studies. However, no significant correlation was found between survival and NLR for early BC patients receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and advanced BC patients. Most studies failed to find a significant correlation between NLR and PCR after NACT. Finally, some data showed that IBM could be predictive of chemotherapy-related toxicity.

A maintained absolute lymphocyte count predicts the overall survival benefit from eribulin therapy, including eribulin re-administration, in HER2-negative advanced breast cancer patients: a single-institutional experience

PURPOSE

Eribulin methylate (eribulin) improved the overall survival (OS) of HER2-negative advanced breast cancer (HER2-ABC) patients; however, the mechanism underlying the OS improvement has not been clarified. Several reports suggest that eribulin promotes antitumor immunity via tumor micro-environment conditioning. Recently, a maintained baseline lymphocyte count was proposed as predictive marker for eribulin therapy in HER2-ABC patients; however, no associations with the OS have been noted. We retrospectively investigated the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in HER2-ABC patients receiving eribulin and assessed the utility of eribulin re-administration for further OS improvement.

METHODS

HER2-ABC patients who received eribulin therapy at Shizuoka Cancer Center between November 2011 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 144 HER2-ABC (108 estrogen receptor-positive [ER+], 36 ER-) patients were identified, and 32 patients (28 ER+ , 4 ER-) were re-administered with eribulin. In the ER+ subgroup, a multivariate analysis showed that an ALC ≥ 1000/μL and re-administration were significantly associated with the OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.503; P = 0.034 and HR 0.366; P < 0.0001, respectively), and an ALC ≥ 1000/μL was also identified as the only predictive factor for re-administration (HR 0.329; P = 0.033). In contrast, a multivariate analysis in the ER- subgroup identified no predictive markers.

CONCLUSION

In HER2-ER + ABC patients, ALC was identified as a predictive marker for eribulin therapy, and the re-administration of eribulin is considered a valid therapeutic option for further improvement of the OS.

Roles of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in prognosis and in differentiation of potential beneficiaries in HER2-positive breast cancer with trastuzumab therapy

Background

The relationship of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to prognosis of HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) is not well studied. We aimed to assess the prognostic role of NLR in HER2-positive BC patients treated with or without trastuzumab.

Methods

The clinical data of 843 HER2-positive BC patients from July 2013 to July 2018 were collected. The difference among variables was calculated by chi-square test. The associations between clinicopathological factors, NLR and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Patients were divided into three groups. In group 1 containing 255 patients without trastuzumab treatment, pretreatment NLR showed no predictive value. Patients with trastuzumab treatment were divided into two groups on equal, according to pretreatment NLR values, low NLR (group 2) and high NLR (group 3). Patients in group 2 showed significantly higher 3-year DFS rate than patients in group 1 and group 3 (95.3% vs. 91.6% vs. 90.5%, respectively, P = 0.011); patients in the group 1 and group 3 had a similar 3-year DFS outcome. Multivariate analysis showed high pretreatment NLR was significantly associated with shorter DFS (HR = 2.917, 95% CI = 1.055–8.062, P = 0.039) in HER2-positive BC patients treated with trastuzumab.

Conclusions

Among HER2-positive trastuzumab-treated BC patients, low pretreatment NLR value was associated with better DFS, and it might help to differentiate potential beneficiaries of trastuzumab treatment.

High absolute lymphocyte counts are associated with longer overall survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with eribulin-but not with treatment of physician's choice-in the EMBRACE study

Background

Eribulin, a nontaxane synthetic inhibitor of microtubule dynamics, is widely used to manage locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Eribulin has demonstrated immunomodulatory activity on the tumour microenvironment. Baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a marker of immune status, may predict progression-free survival in eribulin treatment. This post hoc analysis assessed predictors for overall survival (OS).

Methods

The phase 3 open-label study (EMBRACE) of eribulin versus treatment of physician’s choice (TPC) in patients with MBC provided source data. Baseline absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) and NLR were evaluable in 751 and 713 patients, respectively.

Results

Eribulin prolonged OS versus TPC in patients with baseline ALC ≥ 1500/µl (hazard ratio [HR] 0.586; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.437–0.784; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference by treatment for ALC < 1500/µl (HR 1.002; 95% CI 0.800–1.253; P = 0.989). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed and identified baseline ALC as a potential predictor of OS in eribulin-treated patients. Interaction analysis of OS supported 1500/µl as a potentially differential cutoff value. NLR at a cutoff value of 3 was associated with prolonged OS (eribulin group). However, similar results were also observed in the TPC group, without apparent interaction effect, suggesting that NLR may be a general prognostic marker rather than a specific predictor of OS for eribulin.

Discussion

This hypothesis-generating study speculates that baseline ALC may be an independent predictor for longer OS in eribulin-treated MBC patients and could be clinically impactful because it can be evaluated without the need for additional invasive procedures.

Trial Registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov code: NCT00388726

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12282-020-01067-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and histological type might predict clinical responses to eriburin-based treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is generally considered to be incurable. Although many options are available for treating MBC, physicians often encounter difficulties in choosing the most appropriate treatment because the MBCs of individual patients respond differently even to the same treatments. Thus, predictive markers for therapeutic efficacy are urgently needed. Neutrophil- and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR and PLR, respectively), have been studied and established as prognostic markers for breast cancer patients but whether either or both of these markers are predictive of treatment responses is still unclear. Herein, we investigated predictive markers for eribulin-based treatment responsiveness in patients with MBC, by examining clinicopathological features, including several markers of immunocompetent cells in peripheral blood.

METHODS

Clinicopathological features of the 104 patients with metastatic/Stage IV breast cancer given eribulin-based regimens were investigated in relation to clinical responses to eribulin-based treatments and progression-free-survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Special histological types and high NLR at baseline were independently related to poor clinical responses to the treatments (p = 0.023 and 0.039, respectively). The Cox hazard model revealed that patients with oestrogen receptor (ER)-negative tumours and high NLR, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and PLR showed significantly shorter PFS (p = 0.021, 0.005, 0.008 and 0.030, respectively). On multivariate analysis, only ER status and NLR remained independent factors related to PFS (p = 0.011 and 0.003, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data revealed that special histological types and high NLR might be factors related to low responsiveness to eribulin-based regimens in patients with MBC.

Baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and c-reactive protein predict efficacy of treatment with bevacizumab plus paclitaxel for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer

The effect of bevacizumab plus paclitaxel therapy on progression-free survival (PFS) is prominent; however, no overall survival (OS) benefit has been demonstrated. Our aim was to study the predictive efficacy of peripheral immune-related parameters, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), and c-reactive protein (CRP) in locally advanced and metastatic breast cancers. A total of 179 patients treated with bevacizumab plus paclitaxel were recruited from three institutes in the test cohort. The cut-off values of NLR, ALC, and CRP were set at 3, 1500/μL, and 1.0 mg/dL, respectively, and baseline values of these factors were measured. The PFS of patients with NLR-low was significantly longer than that of patients with -high (median, 12.6 vs. 7.2 months; hazard ratio (HR), 0.48, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.31–0.73; p = 0.0004). OS of patients with NLR-low was significantly better than those with-high (22.2 vs. 13.5 months; HR, 0.57, 95% CI, 0.39–0.83; p = 0.0032). Similarly, improved PFS and OS were recognized in patients with CRP-low as compared with patients with -high (HR, 0.44, 95% CI, 0.28–0.68; p = 0.0001 and HR, 0.39, 95% CI, 0.26–0.61, p < 0.0001, respectively). In the validation cohort from two institutes (n = 57), similar significant improvements in PFS and OS were confirmed for patients with NLR-low (p = 0.0344 and p = 0.0233, respectively) and CRP-low groups (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Low levels of NLR and CRP at baseline were significantly associated with improved prognosis in patients treated with bevacizumab plus paclitaxel.

Inflammatory markers in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Effects of advanced liver disease

BACKGROUND

To investigate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) as prognostic biomarkers in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) with a focus on viral hepatitis and liver status.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, patients from the institutional cancer registry with ICC from 2005 to 2016 were stratified by treatment group. Baseline inflammatory markers were dichotomized at the median. Overall survival (OS) was assessed via Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models. Multiple patient, liver, and tumor factors were included in the multivariable analysis (MVA).

RESULTS

About 131 patients (median age 65 years, 52% male, 76% Caucasian) had a median OS of 13.0 months. Resection/interventional oncology with/without systemic therapy had improved survival vs systemic therapy alone in Child-Pugh A patients (P < 0.01). In Child-Pugh B/C patients, this survival difference became nonsignificant (P = 0.22). Increased NLR and SII were associated with decreased survival (P < 0.01), while dichotomized PLR was not (P = 0.3). On MVA, increased NLR remained an independent prognostic factor (HR 1.6, P < 0.05). In Child-Pugh class A (n = 94), low-NLR had higher OS vs high-NLR (25.4 vs 12.2 months, P < 0.01). In Child-Pugh class B/C (n = 28), NLR did not have a significant effect on median OS (low- vs high-NLR: 6.7 vs 2.9 months, P = 0.2). Child-Pugh class acted as an effect modifier on MVA for NLR (P = 0.0124).

CONCLUSIONS

The NLR has a stronger impact as a prognostic marker in ICC over the PLR and SII. This survival effect is decreased in advanced liver disease.

Prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio for breast cancer patients: An updated meta-analysis of 17079 individuals

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic effect of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for patients with breast cancer (BC).

Methods

A literature search was performed by searching medical databases. Basic characteristics and prognostic data were extracted from included studies. Primary outcomes, such as overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS), were synthesized and compared. Subgroup analyses were performed according to pathology, geographical region, cut‐off value, and tumor progression.

Results

A total of 39 studies comprising 17079 BC patients were included in this meta‐analysis. Among them, 28 studies with 142 64 BC patients investigated predicting role of NLR for OS, showing elevated NLR were associated poor prognosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49‐2.13, P < 0.001). Twenty‐seven studies containing 115 04 patients explored the role of NLR in predicting DFS, showing elevated NLR was associated with poor DFS with HR of 1.60 (95% CI: 1.42‐1.96, P < 0.001). Twelve studies explored the role of PLR in predicting OS, showing patients with higher PLR were associated with a significantly worse prognosis with a pooled HR of 1.32 (95% CI: 1.11‐1.57, P = 0.002). Eleven studies with 5013 patients shown patients with elevated PLR were associated shorter DFS (HR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.09‐1.86, P = 0.009). Subgroup analyses shown a greater magnitude of association between NLR and OS in triple‐negative BC patients than in HER2‐positive ones.

Conclusions

Our study suggested that elevated NLR and PLR were associated with poor OS as well as high risk of recurrence for BC patients. Subgroup analyses confirmed the prognostic effect of NLR and PLR in HER2‐positive BC patients. As easily accessible parameters, NLR and PLR should be identified as useful biomarkers in the management of BC.

Significance of baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for progression-free survival of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab emtansine

The efficacy of trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is prolonged for some patients; however, the predictive factors remain unknown. We focused on a peripheral blood biomarker, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), regarding T-DM1 treatment efficacy. Fifty-three advanced or metastatic breast cancers treated with T-DM1 were retrospectively recruited from three institutes. The NLR in the peripheral blood was measured at baseline and after one cycle. The cutoff value of the NLR was set at median value 2.56. The progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with NLR-low at baseline (n = 26; median, not reached) was significantly better than that of patients with NLR-high (n = 27; median, 4.13 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.226; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.112–0.493; p = 0.0001). Longer overall survival was significantly associated with a low NLR (HR, 0.384; 95% CI, 0.170–0.910; p = 0.0296). In the subgroup analysis, patients with NLR-low consistently had longer PFS compared to those with NLR-high irrespective of the number of prior chemotherapy regimens, prior trastuzumab, visceral metastasis, estrogen receptor status, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) score. Although detailed mechanisms remain unknown, treatment efficacy of T-DM1 may be partly mediated by activation of the immune system. Low baseline NLR appears to be beneficial for treatment with T-DM1 in HER2-positive breast cancers.