An increase in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes after treatment is significantly associated with a poor response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor-positive/HER2-negative breast cancers.

Background: The reason for the poor prognosis of estrogen receptor (ER) + /human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)- breast cancer patients with high levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is poorly understood. The association between TILs and response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) was examined.

Methods: We recruited 170 patients with ER + /HER2- breast cancer who were treated with preoperative endocrine monotherapy.

Relationship between FDG-PET and the immune microenvironment in breast cancer.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake (maximum standardised uptake value [SUVmax]) and immune markers (tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes [TILs] and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR]) and evaluate the potential prognostic value of any correlations.

Methods: Data from 502 patients with breast cancer, including 346 oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive / human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, 88 HER2-positive, and 68 triple-negative cases, who had undergone surgery were reviewed. Relationships between the clinicopathological factors, SUVmax, TILs, NLR, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival of all patients and each subtype were evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards model and log-rank test.

Absolute Lymphocyte Count Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for ER-positive HER2-negative Advanced Breast Cancer Patients Treated With CDK4/6 Inhibitors.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinical significance of peripheral blood biomarkers, including absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with estrogen receptor-positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer treated with the CDK4/6 inhibitors, abemaciclib and palbociclib.

Patients And Methods: A total of 83 patients treated with fulvestrant plus abemaciclib or palbociclib were included in this study. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared in relation to baseline levels of ALC, NLR, PLR and CRP.

Total Lesion Glycolysis Levels as Predictive Indicators in Patients With Metastatic and Recurrent Breast Cancer Undergoing Endocrine Therapy With or Without CDK4/6 Inhibitor.

Background/aim: Endocrine therapy (ET) with or without CDK4/6 inhibitors is the primary treatment choice for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and HER2-negative subtype of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We examined the metabolic parameters identified using F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in terms of sensitivity, since no predictive factors exist.

Patients And Methods: We included 136 patients with MBC treated with ET alone (n=107) or combined with CDK4/6 inhibitor (n=29) and examined using FDG-PET before treatment began.

C-Reactive Protein and Absolute Lymphocyte Count Can Predict Overall Survival of Patients Treated With Eribulin.

Background/aim: We investigated the efficacy of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting overall survival of metastatic breast cancer patients treated with eribulin.

Patients And Methods: Overall, 74 patients treated with eribulin were enrolled and their baseline levels of NLR, ALC, and CRP retrieved. Cutoff values of NLR, ALC, and CRP were set at 3.

Prognostic Significance of Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio in Luminal Breast Cancers With Low Levels of Tumour-infiltrating Lymphocytes.

Background/aim: This study aimed to improve the prognostic significance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective study, NLR and TIL data from 677 operated breast cancer patients were analysed. The cut-off value of NLR was set at 2.

Association Between FOXP3/CD8 Lymphocyte Ratios and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte Levels in Different Breast Cancer Subtypes.

Background/aim: Patients with non-luminal breast cancer subtypes with high levels of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have better prognosis than those with luminal subtype. We evaluated the role of TILs according to the subtype.

Materials And Methods: An immunohistochemical analysis of 139 breast cancer cases was conducted to calculate the FOXP3+/CD8+ T cell ratios and their relationships with TILs and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated.

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.

Significant association between high serum CCL5 levels and better disease-free survival of patients with early breast cancer.

Analysis of anticancer immunity aids in assessing the prognosis of patients with breast cancer. From 250 operated breast cancers, we focused on serum levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), which is involved in cancer immune reactions. Serum levels of CCL5 were measured using a cytometric bead-based immunoassay kit and CCL5 expression in cancer cells was determined using immunohistochemical staining.

A Single-centre, Retrospective, Observational Analysis of Fulvestrant for Recurrent/metastatic Breast Cancer According to Metastatic Site.

Background/aim: Factors influencing fulvestrant efficacy may be useful in selecting the optimal treatment regimen for postmenopausal Japanese women with metastatic/recurrent HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated progression-free and overall survival (PFS and OS) in 100 fulvestrant-treated patients according to metastatic site.

Results: Median PFS was significantly better in patients with non-visceral (bone and regional metastases; 22.

High Serum Levels of Interleukin-18 Are Associated With Worse Outcomes in Patients With Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: Interleukin (IL)-18, which belongs to the IL-1 superfamily of cytokines, is a known interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-inducing factor. Since IFN-γ plays an essential role in anticancer immunity mediated through cytotoxic T cells, IL-18 may also contribute to the function of immunosurveillance. The aim of the study was to examine the association of IL-18 with the outcomes of patients with breast cancer.

Prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes may differ depending on Ki67 expression levels in estrogen receptor-positive/HER2-negative operated breast cancers.

Background: The prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has been established in breast cancers with estrogen receptor (ER)-negative and human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative or HER2-positive subtypes; however, its utility concerning the ER + /HER2 - subtype remains unclear.

Methods: We evaluated the prognostic value of TILs by analyzing 717 invasive breast cancer operation cases. TILs were classified into three groups based on the proportion of area within the tumor: low ( < 10%), intermediate (10-50%), and high ( > 50%).

Significance of Metabolic Tumor Volume at Baseline and Reduction of Mean Standardized Uptake Value in F-FDG-PET/CT Imaging for Predicting Pathological Complete Response in Breast Cancers Treated with Preoperative Chemotherapy.

Background: The usefulness of F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography for evaluating the treatment efficacy of breast cancers is well-established; however, the predictive values of parameters such as metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) remain unknown.

Methods: This study examined 199 breast cancers treated with primary systemic chemotherapy (PSC) followed by operation, and determined the values of maximum standardized uptake value (SUV), peak SUV (SUV), mean SUV (SUV), MTV, and TLG at baseline. Among these cases, data on early changes in these metabolic parameters in 70 breast cancers were also assessed.

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.

Improved prognosis of low baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is significantly exclusive in breast cancer patients with high absolute counts of lymphocytes.

Although the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a valuable prognostic factor for early breast cancer, the patient subgroups that may benefit the most from NLR analysis remain unknown. The present study analyzed the prognostic significance of NLR according to absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs). A total of 889 patients with operated early breast cancers were retrospectively recruited.

High levels of serum CA15-3 and residual invasive tumor size are associated with poor prognosis for breast cancer patients with non-pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background And Objectives: To identify surrogate markers for prognosis of breast cancer patients with non-pathological complete response (non-pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), our investigation focused on the serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA15-3) as well as clinicopathological factors both before and after NAC.

Methods: A total of 185 breast cancer patients treated with NAC were recruited. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen and CA15-3 were measured at baseline and at completion of NAC.

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.

Introduction: Although eribulin and nab-paclitaxel are chemotherapy agents widely used for locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC), their predictive factors remain unknown. Because the absolute neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a significant prognostic factor for early-stage breast cancer, we investigated its usefulness in terms of the eribulin or nab-paclitaxel treatment efficacy for MBC.

Patients And Methods: A total of 85 patients with MBC treated with eribulin (n = 59) or nab-paclitaxel (n = 26) were recruited.

Independent prognostic impact of preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen 15-3 levels for early breast cancer subtypes.

Background: Although the prognosis for operable breast cancers is reportedly worse if serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) levels are above normal, the usefulness of this prognosis is limited due to the low sensitivity and specificity; in addition, the optimal cutoff levels remain unknown.

Methods: A total of 1076 patients who were operated for breast cancers (test set = 608, validation set = 468) without evidence of metastasis were recruited, and their baseline and postoperative serum CEA and CA15-3 levels were analyzed. The optimal cutoff values of CEA and CA15-3 for disease-free survival (DFS) were 3.

Abundant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes after primary systemic chemotherapy predicts poor prognosis in estrogen receptor-positive/HER2-negative breast cancers.

Purpose: The therapeutic effect of systemic treatment for breast cancer (BC) generally depends on its intrinsic subtypes. In addition, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are considered to be an independent factor for tumor shrinkage and disease prognosis. High TILs at baseline or after primary systemic chemotherapy are reported to be associated with better survival in triple-negative or human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive BCs.

[CLINICAL USEFULNESS OF BIOMARKERS FOR BREAST CANCER].

The estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2), and Ki67 are biomarkers for early breast cancer. These markers are usually examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and positive is defined as more than 1％ for ER or PgR, and a score of 3+ or 2+ with in situ hybridization positivity for HER2. Indications for endocrine therapy and anti-HER2 therapy are determined according to these cutoff values.

Prognostic significance of preoperative F-FDG PET/CT for breast cancer subtypes.

Adjuvant treatments for operable breast cancers are determined according to subtypes defined based on estrogen receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status. The ER+/HER2- subtype can be divided into luminal A and luminal B usually by Ki67 expression levels. Although tumor size, lymph node metastasis and tumor grade have been widely accepted in daily clinical practice, the identification of further prognostic indicators especially in the ER+/HER2- subtype is warranted.