title: Roles of white blood cells and subtypes as inflammatory markers in skin cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Skin tumors are the most commonly seen cancer type worldwide. Regarding pathogenesis, it is thought that disruption of kinetics through T lymphocyte-mediated development of chronic inflammation may be involved. The present study was intended to identify role of inflammatory cells such as neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes in the determination of risk for skin cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed charts of 569 cases diagnosed as having primary skin tumors. Data regarding age, gender and histopathological subtype were recorded. Blood parameters studied on the day before surgery including WBCs, neutrophils, and lymphocyte counts, neutrophil:lymphocyte and neutrophil:monocyte ratios were also recorded. Two-hundred and two healthy individuals presented for check-up in an outpatient clinic were selected as the control group. Parameters studied in cases with skin cancer were compared to those healthy individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the cases with skin cancer, 401 were basal cell carcinoma (BCC) while 144 were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 13 were malignant melanoma (MM). WBC, neutrophil and monocyte counts and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio were found to be lower in the patient group than in the healthy control group (p<0.001) while no significant difference was found in other parameters reviewed (p>0.05). No significant difference was found in WBC, neutrophil, neutrophil: monocyte ratio according to gender (p>0.05). Monocyte count was found to be 0.68±0.61 in men and 0.55±0.25 in women, indicating strong statistical significance (p<0.001). WBC, neutrophil and monocyte values were highest in control group while lowest in BCC. When BCC and SCC groups were compared to controls, significant differences found (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in lymphocyte counts among groups (p=0.976). Neutrophil:lymphocyte ratios were 3.24 in BCC, 3.59 in SCC, 3.44 in MM and 5.06 in control group (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, it was found that there were significant differences in complete blood count, neutrophil, monocyte and neutrophil:lymphocyte levels among groups. Neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio was found to be lowest in BCC among skin cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey E-mail : halitbaykan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Halit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baykan
authors.forename: Yasemin Benderli
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Cihan
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozyurt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators