Thromboelastography Characterizes the Hypercoagulable State in Murine and Human Breast Cancer

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Breast cancer elevates the risk of cancer-associated thrombus (CAT), worsening patient prognosis.
• Hypercoagulability in malignancy is known, yet quantitative methods for risk stratification are lacking.
• This study aimed to quantify hypercoagulability in breast cancer using whole blood TEG.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize TEG to quantify the pro-thrombotic state in breast cancer.
• To assess TEG's utility in murine models and human patients with breast cancer.
• To explore TEG's potential for dynamic CAT risk stratification.

Main Methods:

• Whole blood TEG analysis was performed on PyMT transgenic mice and age-matched controls.
• TEG was also conducted on newly diagnosed, untreated breast cancer patients.
• Key TEG parameters (R, K, MA, CI, LY30) were analyzed post-calcium chloride addition.

Main Results:

• PyMT mice showed elevated MA and CI with advancing cancer stages.
• Human breast cancer patients exhibited hypercoagulability across invasive stages and DCIS.
• TEG parameters like increased R, alpha angle, and CI, with reduced K, characterized the hypercoagulable state.

Conclusions:

• TEG successfully identified hypercoagulability in both murine and human breast cancer.
• Aspirin treatment normalized TEG parameters in mice.
• TEG shows promise for dynamic CAT risk stratification and personalized prophylaxis.