Is coagulation factor VIII a useful marker for colorectal carcinoma?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Hematology
• Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

• Thromboembolic events are common in cancer patients.
• Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is associated with increased thrombotic risk.
• The role of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) as a prognostic marker in CRC is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of plasma FVIII levels as a prognostic marker in patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC).
• To correlate FVIII levels with tumor characteristics and patient blood groups.

Main Methods:

• Plasma FVIII levels were measured in 79 CRC patients and 19 controls.
• FVIII levels were correlated with tumor stage (UICC), grade (G), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels.
• Comparisons were made between CRC patients and normal ranges, considering different blood groups (BG).

Main Results:

• Mean FVIII levels were significantly elevated in CRC patients compared to controls, especially in blood groups A/AB/B.
• Elevated FVIII levels were observed in advanced tumor stages (UICC II-IV) and higher tumor grades (G2 vs. G1 in BG A/AB/B).
• Higher FVIII levels correlated with elevated CEA, but not with survival within two years post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Plasma FVIII levels are elevated in CRC patients and are influenced by tumor stage and differentiation.
• FVIII may serve as a potential prognostic marker in CRC, but requires validation in larger studies.
• Blood group significantly affects FVIII levels in CRC patients.