Platelet Indices as a Biomarker in Distinguishing Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Department of Pathology, Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal.

2 Department of Radiodiagnosis, Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal.

3 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nepal Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lalitpur, Nepal.

Abstract

Background: Platelets possess an important biological role at several stages of various malignant diseases. Platelet activation, as manifested by platelet indices, could help establish them as a diagnostic non-invasive biomarker for use in distinguishing benign and malignant breast lumps. Objectives: To compare various platelet indices in patients with different categories of breast lesions and among different cytological or histological grades of breast carcinoma. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional analytical study conducted in the Department of Pathology at Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal. It included 93 cytologically and histopathologically proven cases of breast lesions over a period of 9 months from September 2024 to May 2025. Blood samples from all 93 patients and 31 healthy controls were assessed for various parameters. The ANOVA test was used to compare different platelet indices across different categories and grades of breast lesions. Result: Statistically significant differences in platelet counts, mean platelet volume, platelet-large cell ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio were observed when comparing the control group with the malignant group (p<0.001 in all indices), the non-neoplastic group with the malignant group (p<0.001 in all indices), and the benign group with the malignant group (p<0.001 in all indices). Platelet distribution width additionally showed significant differences between non-neoplastic group and benign group (p value 0.008). Amongst the various grades within malignant group, differences in platelet indices were not significant. Conclusion: Malignant breast tumors are associated with higher levels of platelet activation and systemic inflammatory response, which are reflected in altered platelet parameters. Platelet indices may assist in distinguishing between malignant and non-malignant lesions, but are less reliable in grading the malignancy.

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Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 27, Issue 1
January 2026
Pages 157-161

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 23 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 15 January 2026

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