The importance of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio before and after radiation in breast cancer patients

Abstract Aim The purpose of this research is to analyze the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) to define prognostic factors in patients with breast cancer and to analyze the NLR values among stages, grades, and fractions. Methods The data retrieval period was from October 2018 to June 2020. The study included 56 patients who were part of the research. The mean age of patients was 53.42 years. Results On average, NLR after radiotherapy was higher than before treatment. Moreover, the 5-year overall survival rate for breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy was 81%. Conclusions Based on the NLR results for patients with breast cancer, it is confirmed that the ratio of patients with poor prognosis compared to those with good prognosis is 3.3 to 1. Specifically, all stages of breast cancer showed an increase in NLR after treatment. The exception was stage III, which showed lower NLR values after treatment and, consequently, a better prognosis of the disease.