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Lymphopenia and clinical outcomes in patients with residual nodal disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Cancer causes & control : CCC Gutkin, P. M., Kozak, M. M., von Eyben, R., Horst, K. C. 2020

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with residual nodal disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer have a poor prognosis. We wanted to evaluate whether lymphopenia after treatment for breast cancer impacted clinical outcomes.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed 99 patients with node-positive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Absolute lymphocyte count was recorded 1year after radiation. Dates of local, regional, and distant failure were recorded. Time to event outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Multivariable analysis determined factors predictive for overall survival.RESULTS: Median follow-up was 44months (range 3-150). Median age was 48years (range 23-79). Twenty-six patients (26%) had lymphopenia 1 year after RT. Patients with lymphopenia had a greater incidence of regional (p=0.03) and distant failure (p=0.009) compared to those with normal lymphocyte counts and had a 6.05 greater risk of death (p=0.0002).CONCLUSIONS: In patients with residual nodal disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, lymphopenia after breast cancer treatment was associated with overall survival. The relationship between lymphopenia and breast cancer outcomes warrants further investigation.

View details for DOI 10.1007/s10552-020-01337-6

View details for PubMedID 32888164