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Circulating procoagulant microparticles in cancer patients
Johannes Thaler1, Cihan Ay, Harald Weinstabl
1Department of Medicine I, Clinical Division of Haematology and Haemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Annals of Hematology
|October 29, 2010
Summary
Circulating microparticles (MPs) are elevated in cancer patients, but this study found no evidence that higher MP levels predict venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk in these individuals.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Thrombosis research
Background:
- Microparticles (MPs) are increasingly recognized as key players in cancer and hemostasis interactions.
- Elevated MPs are suspected to contribute to the hypercoagulable state in cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if circulating procoagulant MPs are elevated in cancer patients.
- To determine if elevated MP levels predict the occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational cohort study of 728 cancer patients.
- Plasma MP levels measured using annexin V capture and a prothrombinase assay.
- VTE occurrence as the primary endpoint, with a median follow-up of 710 days.
Main Results:
- Cancer patients exhibited significantly higher MP levels compared to healthy controls (p<0.001).
- Multivariate analysis revealed no statistically significant association between elevated MPs and VTE risk (HR 0.95, p=0.856).
Conclusions:
- MP levels are indeed elevated in cancer patients.
- Elevated circulating procoagulant MPs are not predictive of VTE in this patient cohort.
