Prognostic Value of the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte, Platelet-Lymphocyte, and Monocyte-Lymphocyte Ratios in Male Breast Cancer Patients

Background:The aim of the present study was to assess the blood neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) as prognostic factors in male breast cancer (BC) patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 38 male BC patients who were treated at the Institute of Oncology (Gliwice, Poland) between January 2005 and December 2018 was performed. The prognostic value (in terms of overall survival [OS]) of the pretreatment PLR, NLR, and MLR was assessed by univariate analysis.Results:We observed a tendency towards worse OS among male BC patients with lymph node metastases (N+) (5-year OS: 43.5 vs. 73.9%;p= 0.087), a greater tumor size (T4 vs. T1 + T2) (42.0 vs. 70.5%;p= 0.061), and a negative steroid receptor status (PR-) (28.6 vs. 65.6%;p= 0.109). Patients with a family history of cancer had significantly better 5-year OS than patients without a family history of cancer (86.3 vs. 35.0%;p= 0.001). Younger male BC patients (age <= 56 years) had better 5-year OS than patients >56 years of age (82.5 vs. 42.3%;p= 0.028). The 5-year OS was lower among patients with a lower lymphocyte value (<= 1.82 x 10(3)) (29.0 vs. 75.6%;p= 0.010). There was a tendency towards worse OS among patients with a higher platelet count (>281 x 10(3)) (4.5-year OS: 16.7 vs. 65.8%;p= 0.056). The 5-year OS was insignificantly lower in the group with NLRs >2.74 than in the group with NLRs <= 2.74 (37.5 vs. 62.8%;p= 0.078). A worse OS rate was associated with an elevated PLR (>169.1) (22.2 vs. 70.1%;p= 0.008). Similarly, there was worse OS in the group with higher MLR (>0.30) (41.8 vs. 78.3%;p= 0.025).Conclusions:The present results reveal that elevated MLRs (>0.30) and PLRs (>169.1) are associated with poor OS among male BC patients. Similarly, but insignificantly, an elevated NLR (>2.74) affected OS.