"Breast Cancer, Prognosis Predictable by 'Immune Inflammation Change Levels in Blood' After Treatment"

Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Breast Cancer Center Professors Yoon Chang-ik and Kim Doore Team
After Breast-Conserving Surgery, Before and After Radiation Therapy
'Lymphocyte-Monocyte Ratio' of 2.2 or Less
1.76 Times Higher Recurrence Risk, 2.25 Times Higher Mortality Risk
Useful for Easily Identifying High Recurrence Risk Group Through Blood Sampling

Professor Changik Yoon (left) and Professor Dure Kim, Department of Breast Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Domestic researchers have identified prognostic factors related to breast cancer recurrence and survival rates.

The research team led by Professors Yoon Chang-ik and Kim Doo-re from the Breast Cancer Center at the Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital Cancer Center announced on the 28th that the "lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) change in the blood before and after treatment" in breast cancer patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy is a significant prognostic factor associated with future breast cancer recurrence and survival rates.

The team investigated the lymphocyte-monocyte ratio changes in 777 patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery between 2006 and 2011. As a result, patients whose lymphocyte-monocyte ratio dropped below 2.2 after radiation therapy experienced 1.76 times more breast cancer recurrence and had a 2.25 times higher risk of death compared to those whose ratio did not decrease.

The lymphocyte-monocyte ratio is an inflammatory marker reflecting the patient's immune system and can be used as an indicator to evaluate treatment response and prognosis not only in breast cancer but also in various other malignant tumors. The research team plans to conduct follow-up studies to verify the utility of inflammatory markers in other clinical fields.

Recently, breast-conserving surgery, which minimally removes tissue using radiation or chemotherapy to preserve the breast, has become more common for breast cancer patients. However, since breast cancer can be multifocal, even if palpable malignant tumors are completely removed, microscopic cancer cells remaining in the breast can cause recurrence. Therefore, breast cancer patients undergo regular check-ups every six months after surgery. This study is expected to be useful in clinical practice as it allows easy prediction of high-risk recurrence groups through blood tests.

Professor Yoon explained, "Radiation therapy is essential for patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery for early breast cancer, and this study has clinical significance in that the lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, which can be calculated from a basic blood test, identifies high-risk groups for recurrence and death."

He added, "Breast cancer is highly treatable if detected early, but since there are almost no early symptoms, if a lump is palpable, the cancer is already somewhat advanced. Therefore, women over 30 should perform monthly breast self-examinations, and women over 40 need mammography every 1 to 2 years. Those with a family history of breast cancer or diagnosed with benign tumors during health check-ups must visit a breast surgery clinic regularly, even in their 20s," he emphasized.

This study was published in the June issue of the international journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, published by the global medical and scientific publisher Springer.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.