The Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Indicator in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Study at Seyed Al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan

Abstract

Background: Considering the high prevalence of breast cancer, the importance of determining the prognosis in planning the treatment of patients, the confirmed role of inflammation in the occurrence of cancers despite different results in previous studies and the lack of sufficient investigation, a study aimed to determine the value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the prognosis of patients with breast cancer referred to Seyed alShohada Hospital in Isfahan. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 219 breast cancer patients referred to Seyed al Shohada Hospital from April 2016 to April 2020. The data available in the patients' files, such as the ratio of initial hemogram indicators, demographic indicators, disease stage at diagnosis, pathological criteria, and mortality rate of patients with breast cancer, were used. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test, Chi-square, analysis of variance, and the Kaplan-Meier method. Findings: The findings of the study showed a statistically significant relationship between survival time and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P < 0.01), where increased NLR was associated with decreased survival time. Also, the relationship between the disease stage and and the patients' NLR was significant, and the average NLR was higher in higher stages. Conclusion: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio can be used as a useful prognostic marker in patients with breast cancer. The findings of the study can be used for related professionals and in the field of health. © 2025, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.