Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 10, Issue 2, 157-161Original Article


PRETREATMENT VARIATIONS IN HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

ABDULLATIF ABDULAZIZ AL-ARIFI1, ASHOK KUMAR2*, SRIDEVI CHIGURUPATI3, MUHAMMAD JAWED4, THUNGA PANDURANGAN5

1College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University, Semeling, Kedah, Malaysia, 3Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Semeling, Kedah, Malaysia, 4Sindh Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Hyderabad, 5Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University, Semeling, Kedah, Malaysia
Email: dr.ashok.kumar@hotmail.com

Received: 14 Nov 2017 Revised and Accepted: 03 Jan 2018

ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of the presented study was to analyze the haematological parameters in female breast cancer (BC) patients before the start of the treatment.

Methods: The study was conducted among female BC patients, visited King Fahd Hospital (KFH), Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from January 2013 to December 2016. A retrospective analytical study was conducted. We analyzed the relationship of haematological parameters with various stages of breast cancer before the start of any treatment. We used complete blood count (CBC) reports to analyze the haematological parameters. The mean age of the patients was 57 y (31-83 y). Most of the patients were postmenopausal (51-59 y old). We divided the patients into 4 groups according to the disease stage, i.e., stage 1 (S1) to stage 4 (S4).

Results: Among altered blood parameters, decreased haemoglobin (Hb 4.5-11 g/dl) and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR 37–49 mm/first hour) in S1 to S4, increased neutrophil count in S3 and S4 (8.3-9.6 x103/mm3), and increased lymphocyte count (4-7.2 x103/mm3) in S1 and S2 patients were found.

Conclusion: We found significant variations in haematological parameters at different stages of breast cancer. CBC is indeed an efficient and cost-effective investigation. By managing these parameters, treatment efficacy and survival rate of BC patients may be augmented.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Haemoglobin, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Neutrophilia, Lymphocytosis

© 2018 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i2.23669

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer (BC) has frequently displayed a high influence towards the health of females globally including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Every year, more than 1.4 million new cases of BC are diagnosed. It has been described to be the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality in females. Cancer itself conveys remarkable emotional, social, economic, and public health consequences [1]. The incidence rates of BC in females of the Arab world have increased in the last 24 y; with an increase in the number of females being diagnosed with advanced stages of this cancer [2]. It has been reported that through the early detection of BC by means of screening activities, the morbidity and mortality rates have been successfully reduced [3, 4]. Regardless of these results, Arab females showed low participation in BC screening activities [5]. An elaborated data has been reported on BC in Western countries and developed nations, but in the KSA it seems either scattered or not brought to attention [6]. Clinically, early BC patients usually do not present with the complaint of pain. When the malignancy grows, it causes alterations in the shape or size of the breast. In many cases, a mass may be noticed by the patient in the affected breast. In progressive cases, the malignancy may display the signs of fixation to the chest wall and the ulcerations of the skin. Large lymph nodes may be present in severe cases [7, 8]. If one of these symptoms appears a suitable investigation such as, ultrasonography or tissue biopsy should be implemented to diagnose the disease at early stages [9-11]. In addition to these investigations, complete blood count () has its own significance. It provides information on haematological parameters such as morphologies and counts of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). It is indeed an essential and cost-effective investigation demanded from all patients with malignancy before the use of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Many studies have shown the adverse outcome of malignancies in the patients who have poor haematological parameters. The Hb [12, 13], ESR level [14], and the white blood cell (WBC) counts, including full and differential [15-17], predict the severity and mortality risk of cancer patients. Platelet count aids to monitor the progress of cancer. Cancer cells secret pro-coagulants and inflammatory cytokines which trigger the activation of the coagulation system and consumption of platelets, resulting in multiple organ failure and death [18]. Thus, helps a health care professional to further investigate any underlying pathology and treat accordingly. Every kind of disease that varies in terms of disease progression has, in fact, a direct influence towards haematological parameters. Breast cancer likewise has its effects on these parameters [19]. Hence, it is essential to study the haematological parameters in BC patients before, during and after the onset of treatment. In the current study, we analyzed the haematological parameters of BC patients before the start of the treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted among female BC patients, visited King Fahd Hospital (KFH), Al Ahsa from January 2013 to December 2016. We obtained the approval from the institutional review board of KFH, Al Ahsa, KSA (Notary verified letter reference no: 2270204). We conducted a retrospective study on haematological parameters by interpreting the results of CBC and ESR and analyzed their associations with various stages of breast cancer before the start of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery. The medical records and haematological parameters of 100 female BC patients were retrieved and analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 57 y (31-83 y). Most of the patients (92) were postmenopausal (51-59 y old). We divided the patients into four groups according to the disease stage, i.e., stage 1 (S1), stage 2 (S2), stage 3 (S3) and stage 4 (S4). The haematological parameters included haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelet count (PC), total leucocyte count (TLC), and differential leucocyte count (DLC) i.e., absolute counts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils.

Statistical analysis

The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. The patients were presented as the number and the percentage in each stage of the disease. The haematological parameters were presented as mean±standard deviation (SD).

RESULTS

Among total 100 patients, 40 were in S1, 36 in S2, 18 in S3 and 6 in S4. The staging was done by the consultant oncologists and pathologists of the hospital as per the standard guidelines, described [20]. Among these patients, anaemia (low Hb level) was found in the following number and percentage of patients in each individual group. 9 patients (22.5%) in S1, 5 patients (13.88%) in S2, 5 patients (27.77%) in S3 and 3 patients (50%) in S4. The anaemia was mild (Hb 8-11 g/dl) in S1, S2 and S3 patients, while moderate to severe (Hb 4.5-7.5 g/dl) in S4 patients (normal Hb 12-16 g/dl). Fig. 1 shows the level of haemoglobin and the percentage of anaemic patients in each disease stage. Morphologically, the RBCs were normocytic normochromic with the MCV 81-96 fl (normal 80-100 fl). The ESR remained moderately raised (37-49 mm/first hour) (normal<20 mm/first hour) in almost all (98) patients (fig. 2). The total leukocyte count (TLC) remained under normal range (4-11 x103/mm3) in all patients; but, absolute neutrophil count was found to be raised (8.3-9.6 x103/mm3) (normal 2.5-7.5 x103/mm3) in 5 patients (27.77%) of S3 and 2 patients (33.33%) of S4 (fig. 3). These two neutrophilic patients from S4 had concomitant severe anaemia. Absolute lymphocyte count was found to be raised (4-7.2 x103/mm3) (normal 1.5-3.5 x103/mm3) in 16 patients (40%) of S1 and 5 patients (13.88%) of S2 (fig. 4). All these results are summed up in table 1. Other differential (monocyte, eosinophil and basophil) and platelet counts were within normal range. The normal laboratory values of the haematological parameters have been described [21].

Fig. 1: Anaemic patients with Hb level. % of patients in individual stage. Hb (g/dl). Hb is presented as mean±standard deviation (SD). Normal Hb level: 12-16 g/dl. Total number of patients (n=100)

Fig. 2: Patients with raised ESR. % of patients in individual stage. ESR (mm/fisrt h). ESR is presented as mean±standard deviation (SD). Normal ESR level: <20 mm/first h, total number of patients (n=100)

Fig. 3: Patients with Neutrophilia. % of patients in individual stage. Neutrophil count (x103/mm3). Neutrophil count is presented as mean±standard deviation (SD). Normal neutrophil count: 2.5-7.5 x103/mm3. Total number of patients (n=100)

Fig. 4: Patients with lymphocytosis. % of patients in individual stage. Lymphocyte count (x103/mm3). Lymphocyte count is presented as mean±standard deviation (SD), Normal lymphocyte count: 1.5-3.5 x103/mm3. Total number of patients (n=100)

Table 1: Haematological parameters of breast cancer patients

Breast cancer stage Normal Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
Hb (g/dl) (mean±SD) 14±2 9.5±1.5 9.5±1.5 9.5±1.5 6±1.5
No. of patients 9 out of 40 5 out of 36 5 out of 18 3 out of 6
% of patients 22.50% 13.88% 27.77% 50%
ESR(mm/first h) (mean±SD) 10±10 40±4 42±6 43±6 43±6
No. of patients 39 out of 40 36 out of 36 17 out of 18 6 out of 6
% of patients 97.50% 100% 94.40% 100%
Neutrophil count (x103/mm3) (mean±SD) 5±2.5 5±2.5 5±2.5 8.95±0.65 8.95±0.65
No. of patients 40 out of 40 36 out of 36 5 out of 18 2 out of 6
% of patients 100% 100% 27.77% 33.33%
Lymphocyte count (x103/mm3) (mean±SD) 2.5±1 5.7±1.5 5.5±1.5 2.5±1 2.5±1
No. of patients   16 out of 40 5 out of 36 18 out of 18 6 out of 6
% of patients   40% 13.88% 100% 100%

Total number of patients (n=100). The above parameters are expressed in: Hb (g/dl), ESR (mm/first hr), Neutrophil count (x103/mm3), Lymphocyte count (x103/mm3).

DISCUSSION

Complete blood count (CBC) is a basic and an essential investigation for any disease prior to the treatment. Through this investigation, various haematological parameters are measured. Alterations in any of those may further help investigate the underlying potential causes and treat them accordingly. Hence, it helps to improve the general health, immunity and tolerance of the patient to the treatment. Likewise, it is an important investigation for breast cancer (BC) patients prior to the start of any treatment, i.e., chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. In the current study, we analyzed the haematological parameters of the female BC patients. We found significant variations in their haematological parameters. Around ¼ (22%) of the total BC patients were found to have decreased Hb levels. The patients showed normocytic normochromic anaemia. Our results significantly correlate with a previous study conducted in India, which showed decreased Hb level in more than 60% of breast cancer patients. Those patients also displayed normocytic normochromic anaemia [22]. As India is a heavily populated country with poor socio-economic conditions, decreased Hb level in the majority of these patients could be due to nutritional deficiencies [23]. Contrary to that, KSA people have a good nutritional and a higher socio-economic condition, hence less number of patients were anaemic, which may have resulted from various factors, such as, cytokine secretion by tumor cells, or decreased production of erythropoietin. Based on previous reports, it was shown that chronic diseases and cancers could cause decreased levels of erythropoietin, leading to decreased production of RBCs with resulting anaemia [24]. The other possible cause of anaemia in our patients might be the metastasis of cancer cells to bone marrow, which seems less likely as it would have also caused the suppression of other haematological series. In addition to this, stage 1 patients also were anaemic in which there is no metastasis. Nevertheless, the metastasis in the initial stages cannot be completely ruled out. Haematopoiesis suppression due to metastasis of breast cancer cells to bone marrow has already been described [25, 26]. On the other hand, low Hb level has been shown to cause poorer oxygenation of tumor cells, which could activate the metastatic genes, leading to the metastasis and resistance of cancer cells to chemo and radiotherapy, resulting in the worse survival of BC patients [12-13]. Hence, Hb is an important parameter, which may be improved in these patients, for example through the exogenous administration of erythropoietin [27]. Furthermore, we found a significant raise in ESR in almost all BC patients. Increased ESR has been found in many malignant diseases including breast cancer and several inflammatory disorders [28], and has been frequently associated with a much poorer prognosis [14, 28].

Total leucocyte count (TLC) on the other hand was normal in our patients, but the absolute neutrophil count was found to be raised in S3 and S4 patients. Previously, Rana AP and his team of medical experts reported increased neutrophil count in advanced stages of BC patients [22]. The increase in neutrophil count may indicate various conditions, such as bacterial infection [29], or increased cytokine release by cancer cells, which helps them disseminate to other sites [30, 31]. Previous reports have shown that increased neutrophil count is often associated with poor prognosis of breast and other cancers [15, 16].

Absolute lymphocyte count was found to be slightly raised in our S1 and S2 BC patients. Our results correlate with two other studies which showed increased lymphocyte count in the early stage of BC patients [22, 31]. Increased lymphocyte count may be indicative of a good prognosis as it was reported to favor the survival of BC patients [32, 33]. Increased lymphocyte count has also been reported in other cancers such as gastric and head and neck carcinomas [34]. Lymphocytes, specifically CD8+cells and natural killer (NK) cells, are known to play an anti-tumorigenic role in many cancers. NK cells kill the tumor cells without any prior sensitization. Lee and his group reported that even the BC patients with advanced stage who had higher lymphocyte count had a better prognosis than the patients with lower lymphocyte count [17]. Nonetheless, many breast cancer cells down-regulate the expression of their surface antigens, specifically class 1 major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I), thus evading the recognition by immune cells [17, 35]. In such situations, the lymphocyte count may remain under normal range. In contrast, it has also been shown that if MHC antigens are down regulated to avoid T cell recognition, they become susceptible to be invaded by NK cells, another type of lymphocytes [36]. Thus, depending upon the cancer cell antigen expressions and immune response, the lymphocyte count may be elevated, or may remain within normal range. Hence, absolute counts of WBCs also provide with the significant information towards managing the disease.

CONCLUSION

We found significant variations in haematological parameters, which differed considerably at various stages of our breast cancer patients. Decreased Hb and increased ESR at S1 to S4, increased neutrophil count at S3 and S4, and increased lymphocyte count at S1 and S2 were found. Hence, these parameters have their own significance which provides with the essential information from very basic to advanced disease processes. By managing these parameters, patients’ treatment response and survival rate may be significantly augmented.

Study limitation

In our study, the number of patients was limited to 100, which was further divided into four groups according to the disease stage.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Authors are thankful to the directorate and the technical staff of King Fahad Hospital Al Ahsa to support and assist in accessing and collecting the data of this study.

AUTHORS CONTRIBUTIONS

I declare that this work was done by the authors named in this article and all liabilities pertaining to claims relating to the content of this article will be borne by the authors. Dr. Abdullatif Abdulaziz Al-Arifi collected the data and wrote the introduction part. Dr. Sridevi Chigurupati, Dr. Muhammad Jawed and Prof. Dr. Thunga Pandurangan analyzed the data and wrote the material and method, result and abstract parts. Dr. Ashok Kumar designed the study, wrote the discussion part and proof-read the whole manuscript.

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

Declared none

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