Oyeon Cho1, Mison Chun2, Sang Won Kim2, Yong Sik Jung3, Hyunee Yim4. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea oyeoncho@ajou.ac.kr. 2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Konyang University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea. 4. Department of Pathology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between lymphopenia after breast conserving therapy (BCT) and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) in early breast cancer (EBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 216 EBC patients treated with partial mastectomy followed by radiotherapy (RT), none of whom received chemotherapy. Absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) during the two years after RT were collected from each patient: pretreatment ALC, ALC at 3-5 months (ALC1), ALC at 9-11 months, ALC at 15-17 months, and ALC at 21-23 months. RESULTS: The 102 patients with ALC1 ≤1,479 cells/μl (defined as lymphopenia) had significantly higher 10-year IBTR rate than the 102 patients with ALC1 >1,479 cells/μl (16.2% vs. 1%, p=0.0034). The multivariate analysis showed that age, resection margins, human epidermal growth factor receptor, and lymphopenia were significant predictors of IBTR. CONCLUSION: Lymphopenia is a potential predictor for IBTR in EBC patients treated with BCT. Copyright
BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between lymphopenia after breast conserving therapy (BCT) and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) in early breast cancer (EBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 216 EBC patients treated with partial mastectomy followed by radiotherapy (RT), none of whom received chemotherapy. Absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs) during the two years after RT were collected from each patient: pretreatment ALC, ALC at 3-5 months (ALC1), ALC at 9-11 months, ALC at 15-17 months, and ALC at 21-23 months. RESULTS: The 102 patients with ALC1 ≤1,479 cells/μl (defined as lymphopenia) had significantly higher 10-year IBTR rate than the 102 patients with ALC1 >1,479 cells/μl (16.2% vs. 1%, p=0.0034). The multivariate analysis showed that age, resection margins, humanepidermal growth factor receptor, and lymphopenia were significant predictors of IBTR. CONCLUSION:Lymphopenia is a potential predictor for IBTR in EBC patients treated with BCT. Copyright