Absolute lymphocyte count as a biomarker for best supportive care transition in metastatic breast cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Clinical Medicine
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Optimal timing for transitioning patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) to best supportive care (BSC) is critical but lacks clear indicators.
• Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) has been identified as a prognostic marker in MBC patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) can serve as an indicator for the optimal timing of best supportive care (BSC) transition in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 101 patients with MBC.
• Evaluation of the relationship between clinicopathological factors, including ALC, and the duration of the last treatment (time-to-treatment-termination, TTT).

Main Results:

• Mean ALC showed a significant gradual decrease during the final three systemic treatments leading up to BSC transition.
• Lower ALC at the start of the last treatment was associated with a significantly shorter time-to-treatment-termination (TTT).
• Patients with low ALC had a mean TTT of 16.4 weeks, compared to 30.2 weeks in the high ALC group (p=0.004).

Conclusions:

• Decreasing absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) values correlate with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) progression.
• ALC may function as a potential biomarker to guide clinicians in determining the optimal timing for transitioning MBC patients to best supportive care (BSC).