Peripheral Coagulation Parameters and Prostate Cancer Association: A Retrospective Study and Mendelian Randomization

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Hematology
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis faces limitations with current biomarkers like prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
• Emerging research indicates a potential connection between coagulation markers, specifically fibrinogen and D-dimer, and PCa.
• There is a need for novel biomarkers to improve PCa detection and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between coagulation markers (fibrinogen, D-dimer) and prostate cancer (PCa).
• To explore the potential of D-dimer as a novel diagnostic biomarker for PCa.
• To determine the causal relationship between D-dimer levels and PCa risk using Mendelian randomization.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 466 patients undergoing biopsy, divided into PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) groups.
• Comparison of baseline and coagulation parameters between PCa and BPH cohorts.
• Application of Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the causal link between D-dimer and PCa risk.

Main Results:

• Patients with PCa had significantly higher D-dimer, total PSA, and PSA density compared to BPH patients (P < .001).
• Fibrinogen levels did not show a significant difference between the groups (P = .505).
• MR analysis indicated a probable causal relationship between elevated D-dimer and increased PCa risk (OR: 1.81, P = 7.4 × 10⁻⁹).

Conclusions:

• D-dimer emerges as a promising potential biomarker for prostate cancer diagnosis.
• Both clinical data and MR analysis support the role of D-dimer in PCa.
• Future large-scale, multi-center studies are recommended to validate these findings and elucidate PCa-coagulation marker interactions.