Liver Function Indicators Before and After Detection of Hepatic Metastases in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis Over Time

Background: Hepatic metastases represent a significant clinical challenge in breast cancer management, underscoring the importance of identifying predictive factors to optimize patient care. As the longitudinal patterns of liver function protein levels surrounding hepatic metastasis development remain poorly characterized, this study prospectively analyzed protein level trajectories over an 18-month period, spanning six months prior to and twelve months following metastasis diagnosis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined 104 patients with breast cancer-derived hepatic metastases, who received treatment at A.H. Post-Graduate Institute of Cancer, Cuttack, between 2022 and 2024. Data were retrospectively extracted from patient medical records. Results: Six months preceding the diagnosis of hepatic metastases, statistically significant deviations from established reference intervals were observed in hepatic function biomarkers. Specifically, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) exhibited elevations (p<0.001), while albumin levels demonstrated a concomitant decrease (p<0.001). At the time of metastatic diagnosis, further statistically significant increases in AST, GGT, and LDH were noted relative to the six-month pre-diagnosis levels (p<0.001). These hepatic function indicator changes were independent of patient or tumor-specific parameters. Notably, increased AST and decreased albumin at the time of diagnosis were associated with reduced overall survival. Conclusion: Evaluation of hepatic function protein levels is warranted to determine their clinical utility as biomarkers for the early identification of liver metastasis in breast cancer patients. Implementation of such screening protocols, in conjunction with advanced therapeutic interventions, may positively impact patient survival.