Association between Blood Parameters and Pathological Characteristics in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Authors

Xavier Rodriguez-Bello
Alma Campos-Parra
Rebeca García-Román
Macrina Beatriz Silva-Cázarez

Keywords:

Breast cancer, metastasis, blood test, diagnosis

Abstract

Introduction: Blood parameters such as red cell distribution width (RDW), platelet-to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and RDW-to-platelet ratio (RPR) have been investigated in early-stage breast cancer (BC). However, their clinical relevance in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains underexplored. Objective: To evaluate the association between blood parameters and the pathological characteristics in patients with MBC. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, crosssectional, observation l study reviewed the medical records of patients with MBC treated at two hospitals in Xalapa, Veracruz, between 2015 and 2023. Results and Discussion: A total of 229 clinical records were reviewed. Metastasis to three or more organs was marginally associated with elevated RDW (p = 0.094), PLR (p = 0.064), or NLR (p = 0.092). In contrast, no significant association was observed between NLR and other specific pathological features in this cohort. Conclusions: Elevated levels of RDW, PLR, and NLR showed a marginal association with the presence of metastases in three or more organs in patients with CMM, suggesting a potential role for these parameters as accessible markers of metastatic burden, which should be confirmed in studies with larger sample sizes.

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