The ratio of lymphocyte/red blood cells and platelets/lymphocytes are predictive biomarkers for lymph node metastasis in patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Axillary lymph node metastasis (LNM) affects the progression of breast cancer. However, it is difficult to preoperatively diagnose axillary lymph node status with high sensitivity. Therefore, we hypothesized that platelets/lymphocytes ratio (PLR) and lymphocytes/ red blood cells ratio (LRR) might help in the prognosis of lymph node metastasis in T1-T2 breast cancer. METHODS: 166 patients (Chang Ning Maternity & Infant Health Institute) were included in our study, and the associations of PLR and LPR with lymph node metastasis were investigated. Peripheral blood was collected one week before the surgery, and the patients were divided into different categories based on their PLR and LRR. RESULTS: The incidence of LNM was significantly increased in the high PLR group (p= 0.002) compared with the low PLR group; LNM was also significantly increased in the low LRR group (p= 0.036) compared with the high LPR group. Further, our study revealed that high PLR (p< 0.001, OR = 4.397, 95% CI = 2.005–9.645), low LRR (p= 0.017, OR = 0.336, 95%CI = 0.136–0.825) and high clinical T stage (p< 0.001, OR = 3.929, 95%CI = 1.913–8.071) are independent predictors of LNM. CONCLUSIONS: PLR and LRR could be identified as predictors of LNM in patients with T1/T2 breast cancer.