Hematological and biochemical indicators show growing value in breast cancer management

Breast cancer remains a predominant global health challenge for women, with late-stage diagnosis being a key contributor to its high mortality. This is particularly pronounced in low-resource settings where access to advanced, costly diagnostic tools is limited. There is a pressing need for affordable, non-invasive, and accessible diagnostic strategies. This review underscores the significant potential of hematological and biochemical serum markers as pivotal tools to bridge this diagnostic gap, offering insights into diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring for breast cancer.

Hematological markers associated with breast cancer

Hematological markers, derived from routine and inexpensive tests like the complete blood count (CBC), provide a window into the body's physiological and pathological state, including systemic inflammation and immune response, which are hallmarks of cancer.

Biochemical serum markers associated with breast cancer

Serum biochemical markers offer complementary information on metabolic and organ function, which can be perturbed by cancer progression and metastasis.

Systemic biomarkers for breast cancer management

The true value of these markers lies in their integration into a systemic, multi-modal diagnostic framework. While individually they may lack specificity for early detection, their combined use can significantly enhance risk stratification, prognosis, and monitoring. For instance, combining NLR and PLR with tumor immune features can improve prognostic accuracy. However, challenges remain, including low specificity, susceptibility to influence by non-cancerous conditions (e.g., infection, obesity), and the need for technical simplification for markers like those related to oxidative stress. Therefore, they are best utilized as complementary tools alongside clinical examination and imaging, rather than as stand-alone diagnostics.

Future directions

Future research should focus on standardizing assessment protocols and leveraging emerging technologies like liquid biopsy and machine learning to analyze multiple biomarkers simultaneously. Exploring the interplay between hematological markers, oxidative stress, and genetic factors could uncover novel therapeutic targets. Expanding access to these affordable tools is crucial for reducing global disparities in breast cancer outcomes.

Conclusions

Hematological and serum-based biomarkers represent a promising avenue for improving breast cancer care, especially in resource-limited settings. Markers such as NLR, PLR, CA 15-3, and oxidative stress indicators provide valuable, cost-effective, and non-invasive insights into tumor-associated inflammation and disease progression. Their integration into structured, multi-modal diagnostic strategies holds the potential to enable earlier detection, guide personalized treatment, and ultimately contribute to more equitable breast cancer management worldwide.

Source:

Xia & He Publishing Inc.

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