Purpose: We explored the relationship between platelet count to lymphocyte count ratio (PLR), monocyte count to lymphocyte count ratio (MLR), lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio (LAR), and long-term survival in patients with breast cancer. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and follow-up data of 134 patients with breast cancer. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to distinguish between the low and high ratio groups. The chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used to calculate the differences among the investigation factors. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to draw the survival curves. Log rank test was used for univariate analysis, and Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for multivariate analysis. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The median follow-up time was 45 months. The PFS rates in the low group (LAR≤ 3.4066) at 18 months, 24 months, and 36 months were 100%, 100%, and 97.6%, and those in the high group (LAR > 3.4066) were 97.7%, 94.3%, and 87.3%, respectively. LAR was associated with Age (P=0.002) and BMI (body mass index) (P=0.002). Univariate analysis showed that Tumor size (P=0.027), Node positivity (P< 0.001), TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) stage (P< 0.001), PLR (P=0.034), MLR (P=0.038), and LAR (P=0.035) were significantly associated with PFS (progression-free survival) in breast cancer patients. Multivariate analysis showed that Node positivity (P< 0.001) and LAR (P=0.035) were associated with PFS, while PLR and MLR were not independent prognostic indicators. Conclusion: Preoperative high LAR will be an independent predictor of prognosis in patients with breast cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of preoperative lymphocytes, albumin, neutrophils, and LANR in the prognosis of patients with stage IB-IIA cervical cancer (CC). Methods: We made a retrospective analysis of the clinical information and related materials of 202 patients with stage IB-IIA primary cervical cancer who had undergone a radical hysterectomy in the Department of Gynecology at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University between January 2017 and December 2018. The definition of LANR was as follows: LANR, lymphocyte × albumin / neutrophil. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was generated to determine the best cut-off values for these parameters, as well as the sensitivity and specificity of LANR in predicting recurrence and survival. The Kaplan–Meier method was employed to draw survival curves in our survival analysis. Univariate analysis, multifactorial analysis, and subgroup analysis were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of LANR in overall and progression-free survival. Results: The median follow-up time of the study was 55 months. In overall survival, the area under the curve for LANR was 0.704 (95% CI: 0.590–0.818, p<0.05). And in progression-free survival, the area under the curve for LANR was 0.745 (95% CI: 0.662–0.828, p<0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the value of LANR was associated with both overall survival and progression-free survival (p< 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that OS (p< 0.001) and PFS (p< 0.001) in patients with high LANR levels were significantly higher than those with low LANR levels. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that LANR might serve as a clinically reliable and effective independent prognostic indicator in patients with stage IB-IIA cervical cancer.

Response to Letter in regards to Depths of Malignancy: On the Prognosis of Breast Cancer [Letter]