Univariable linear regression analysis showed that only age at the time of surgery (β = 0.009, 95% CI 0.001–0.017, P = 0.027), tumour size (β = 0.013, 95% CI 0.005–0.021, P = 0.001), and HER2 status (β = − 0.370, 95% CI − 0.676—−0.065, P = 0.017) were associated with pre-operative NLR. This evidence concerns the gene ERBB2 and neoplasm.