Breast cancer remains one of the leading health threats faced by women around the world, with late-stage diagnosis continuing to drive high mortality rates. The issue is particularly severe in low-resource regions, where advanced imaging and diagnostic technologies are limited or unaffordable. Now, emerging research highlights how routine, inexpensive blood tests could offer a powerful solution to this gap, providing earlier insights into disease development and progression.
A new comprehensive review published in Exploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine underscores the growing importance of hematological and biochemical serum markers measurements obtained through widely available blood tests in improving breast cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. According to researchers, these markers offer a non-invasive and cost-effective method that could significantly reinforce existing diagnostic pathways, especially in underserved settings.
The analysis reveals that standard complete blood count (CBC) parameters show distinct abnormalities in patients with breast cancer. Common findings include reduced hemoglobin and red blood cell levels, indicating cancer-related anemia. Additionally, shifts in various white blood cell populations reflect the complex interaction between tumors and the immune system.
Among blood-based indicators, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as one of the strongest predictors of disease outcome. Consistently elevated NLR levels are linked to poor prognosis, particularly in aggressive subtypes such as triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer. Researchers believe that a high NLR reflects a pro-tumor inflammatory environment that supports cancer growth and spread. Similarly, the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has gained recognition as a prognostic marker, with elevated levels associated with lymph node involvement and higher tumor grade. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), a long-standing marker of inflammation, is also frequently elevated in patients.
Beyond cellular markers, biochemical serum indicators offer deeper insights into metabolic and organ-specific changes associated with breast cancer. Enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increase as the disease progresses, with ALP particularly valuable in signaling possible bone or liver metastasis. Other biomarkers, including creatine kinase-BB and serum uric acid, shed light on hormonal and metabolic changes related to breast cancer.
Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) remain significantly elevated in many patients, correlating with poorer survival and greater tumor burden. Cancer antigens like CA 15-3 and CA 27.29 continue to be among the most reliable serum markers for monitoring advanced disease, aiding in assessing treatment response and identifying recurrence. Elevated D-dimer levels, which reflect increased coagulation activity, further point to advanced-stage disease. Growing evidence also highlights the importance of oxidative stress markers, such as reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes like catalase, offering potential non-invasive indicators of tumor activity.
While these tests hold tremendous promise, experts caution that individual markers may lack specificity when used alone. However, combining multiple biomarkers in a structured, multi-modal diagnostic framework significantly enhances risk prediction and treatment decisions. As new technologies including liquid biopsy platforms and artificial intelligence advance, researchers expect more precise interpretation of complex biomarker profiles.
The review concludes that expanding access to affordable blood-based tests could play a critical role in reducing global disparities in breast cancer outcomes. For clinicians working in low-resource regions, these tools could enable earlier detection and more tailored care, ultimately improving survival rates and promoting more equitable health care worldwide.
Reference
- Madhu Y, Jain S, Jain P, Kashyap N, Mangalhara KC, Jain BP. Hematological and Biochemical Serum Markers in Breast Cancer: Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Prognostic Significance. Explor Res Hypothesis Med. 2025;10(4):e00022. doi: 10.14218/ERHM.2025.00022.