The role of tumor-associated neutrophils in early luminal HER2-negative breast cancer progression

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Luminal HER2-negative breast cancer is the most common type of tumor in women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Stromal cells and immune cells in tumor microenvironment have been reported to play a significant role in cancer prognosis. The prognostic role of tumor-associated neutrophils in early breast cancer remains mostly unclear. AIM: To study predictive role tumor-associated neutrophils in early luminal HER2-negative breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The dataset consisted of 60 patients with early luminal HER2-negative breast cancer treated in S.P. Botkin City Clinical Hospital (Moscow, Russia). We first estimated basic morphological signs: tumor size, tumor grade (by Nottingham Histologic Score), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, lymphovascular invasion, hormonal receptors status, proliferative index, regional lymph nodes status. The expression of intratumoral neutrophils was studied using immunohistochemistry with CD15. RESULTS: High tumor-associated neutrophils concentration was correlated with tumor size, high grade tumors, proliferative index, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, lymphovascular invasion and positive regional lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: Tumor-associated neutrophils predicted a worse prognosis in early luminal HER2-negative breast cancer.