Researchers studied 96 breast cancer patients to see if simple blood tests and body measurements could predict how well patients would respond to cancer treatment before surgery. They looked at inflammation markers in the blood, vitamin D levels, and body weight. The study found that certain inflammation patterns were different between two types of breast cancer, and that vitamin D levels were connected to inflammation in one type. While these blood tests show promise, they didn’t reliably predict treatment success on their own, suggesting doctors may need to use them alongside other tools.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Can blood tests measuring inflammation and vitamin D levels help doctors predict whether breast cancer patients will respond well to chemotherapy given before surgery?
  • Who participated: 96 women with breast cancer who hadn’t started treatment yet. About half had triple-negative breast cancer (a more aggressive type), and half had HER2-positive breast cancer (another specific type).
  • Key finding: Certain inflammation markers were significantly higher in triple-negative breast cancer patients compared to HER2-positive patients. However, these markers alone couldn’t reliably predict who would have a complete response to treatment.
  • What it means for you: These blood tests may help doctors understand your cancer type better, but they’re not yet reliable enough to use alone for predicting treatment success. More research is needed before they can be used as standalone prediction tools in clinical practice.

The Research Details

This was an observational study where researchers collected blood samples and measurements from 96 breast cancer patients before they started chemotherapy treatment. The patients were divided into two groups based on their cancer type: 51 with triple-negative breast cancer and 45 with HER2-positive breast cancer. The researchers measured three different inflammation markers in the blood (called SIRI, SII, and PIV), checked vitamin D levels, and recorded body mass index (BMI). They then tracked which patients had a complete response to treatment (meaning the cancer disappeared) and which didn’t, looking for connections between the blood tests and treatment outcomes.

The researchers analyzed the data to see if the inflammation markers, vitamin D, or BMI could predict treatment success. They also looked for relationships between these measurements—for example, whether higher inflammation was connected to lower vitamin D or higher body weight.

This type of study is valuable because it helps identify potential biomarkers (measurable indicators) that might predict treatment response, which could eventually help doctors personalize cancer treatment plans.

Understanding which patients will respond well to chemotherapy before treatment starts could help doctors make better treatment decisions and potentially spare patients from ineffective treatments. Blood tests are non-invasive and relatively inexpensive, making them attractive tools for predicting outcomes if they prove reliable.

This study had a moderate sample size (96 patients), which is reasonable but not large. The researchers used established medical measurements and clear definitions of treatment success. However, the study was observational rather than experimental, meaning it can show associations but not prove cause-and-effect relationships. The findings need confirmation in larger studies before being used in routine clinical practice.

What the Results Show

The study found that two inflammation markers (SIRI and PIV) were significantly higher in patients with triple-negative breast cancer compared to those with HER2-positive breast cancer. This suggests these blood tests might help doctors identify which type of breast cancer a patient has.

However, when the researchers looked at whether these inflammation markers could predict treatment success, they found no significant differences between patients who had a complete response to chemotherapy and those who didn’t. This was an important negative finding—it means these markers alone cannot reliably tell doctors who will benefit most from the treatment.

In the HER2-positive group, researchers found that patients with higher SII inflammation markers tended to have lower vitamin D levels. They also found that in patients who didn’t respond completely to treatment, higher inflammation was associated with higher body weight. These connections suggest that vitamin D and body weight may influence inflammation in breast cancer patients.

The study revealed that vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with one inflammation marker (SII) in the HER2-positive group, meaning lower vitamin D was associated with higher inflammation. This finding aligns with previous research suggesting vitamin D plays a role in immune function. The relationship between body weight and inflammation in non-responders suggests that weight management might be relevant to cancer treatment outcomes, though this needs further investigation.

Previous research has suggested that inflammation markers and vitamin D levels might predict cancer treatment outcomes. This study partially confirms those ideas by showing that inflammation patterns differ between cancer types and that vitamin D relates to inflammation. However, unlike some earlier studies, this research found that these markers couldn’t reliably predict individual treatment success, suggesting the relationship is more complex than initially thought.

The study had several limitations worth noting. First, the sample size of 96 patients is relatively small, which limits how much we can generalize the findings. Second, the study only looked at two specific types of breast cancer, so results may not apply to other breast cancer types. Third, the researchers didn’t measure other factors that might influence inflammation or treatment response, such as diet, exercise, stress, or medications. Finally, this was an observational study, so it can show relationships but cannot prove that one thing causes another.

The Bottom Line

Based on current evidence, these blood tests should not yet be used as the main tool for predicting breast cancer treatment success. However, they may provide useful additional information about cancer type and inflammation status. Patients should continue to rely on their oncologist’s comprehensive assessment, which includes imaging, pathology, and clinical judgment. Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels and healthy body weight appear to be reasonable general health goals, though they haven’t been proven to improve cancer treatment outcomes.

This research is most relevant to breast cancer patients and their doctors, particularly those with triple-negative or HER2-positive breast cancer. Patients considering neoadjuvant chemotherapy (treatment before surgery) may want to discuss these findings with their oncology team. People interested in cancer prevention and the role of inflammation and vitamin D in health should also find this relevant.

If these blood tests eventually become standard clinical tools, results would be available within days of blood draw. However, any changes in treatment recommendations based on these tests would need to be discussed with your oncology team. Benefits from addressing vitamin D deficiency or weight management typically take weeks to months to show measurable effects on inflammation markers.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track vitamin D levels quarterly (with doctor’s approval) and monitor body weight weekly. Record any blood work results related to inflammation markers when available from your medical team.
  • If your doctor identifies low vitamin D, work with them on supplementation or increased sun exposure. Maintain a food and activity log to support healthy weight management, which may help reduce inflammation.
  • Set reminders for quarterly vitamin D testing and monthly weight check-ins. Create a health dashboard showing trends in these markers over time, and share results with your oncology team at each visit to inform treatment decisions.

This research summary is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. The findings presented are preliminary and not yet ready for routine clinical use. If you have breast cancer or are at risk for breast cancer, discuss these findings and any potential applications to your care with your oncologist or healthcare provider. Do not make changes to your cancer treatment plan or vitamin D supplementation based solely on this research without consulting your medical team.