Journal Article

Systemic Inflammatory and Hematological Profiles in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Study from a Senegalese Cohort

Gaye, Amy, Thioune, Ndeye Marème, Ka, Sidy, Ngom, Ndeye Khady, Diallo, Saikou Oumar, Djité, Moustapha, Barry, Assiatou, Ndour, El Hadj Malick, Tall, Fatou Gueye, Fall, Amacoumba, Thiam, Jaafar, Coly, Najah Fatou, Kandji, Pape Matar, Mbacke, Yacine, Kiema, Fidèle, Kengne, Ulrich Igor Mbessoh, Gueye, Papa Madieye, Dem, Ahmadou, Sow, Amadi Amadou, Guetti, Marième, Kitungwga, Simbi Celestin, Lusasi, Marie Masesi, Sy, Mouhamad, Ndiaye, Siny, Gassama, Cheikh Tidiane, Sow, Mamadou, Doupa, Dominique, Barry, Nènè Oumou Kesso, Touré, Mariama, Reynier, Pascal, Dial, Cherif, Baldé, Salif, Bissan, Aboubacar Dit Tietie, Sène, Aïta

2026

Overview

Background/Objectives: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype associated with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Inflammatory and hematological biomarkers have emerged as potential tools for disease characterization, particularly in low-resource settings. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between July 2022 and February 2024 at Dalal Jamm Hospital in Dakar, Senegal, and included 120 women: 40 with TNBC, 40 with hormone-dependent breast cancer (HDBC), and 40 healthy controls. Blood samples were collected at diagnosis before any treatment to measure complete blood counts and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Inflammatory ratios—neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR)—were calculated. Results: TNBC patients displayed a distinct inflammatory profile characterized by elevated neutrophil counts, CRP, NLR, and MLR, as well as reduced lymphocyte and basophil percentages compared to healthy controls. NLR > 1.12 demonstrated strong discriminatory ability (AUC = 0.847; sensitivity 90%; specificity 65%). Differences between TNBC and HDBC were less pronounced, except for CRP and basophil levels. Multivariate analysis confirmed independent associations of elevated NLR, CRP, and neutrophils with TNBC. Conclusions: These findings provide new insights into the inflammatory and hematological characteristics of TNBC in this population and support further investigation of accessible biomarkers for early disease stratification in similar settings.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
• Subject: Blood / Blood platelets / Breast cancer / breast cancer subtypes / C-reactive protein / C-reactive protein (CRP) / Cancer / Care and treatment / Development and progression / hematological parameters / Hematology / Hemoglobin / Immunohistochemistry / Inflammation / Informed consent / Leukocytes / Lymphocytes / Mammography / Medical examination / Metastasis / monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) / neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) / Neutrophils / Oncology, Experimental / Prognosis / Sociodemographics / triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)