Objective This retrospective study evaluates the influence of serum platelet count on chemotherapy response rates among women with endometrial cancer. Methods From three separate cancer centers, a total of 318 patients with endometrial cancer who received post-operative chemotherapy between June 1999 and October 2009 were retrospectively identified. Endometrioid, serous, clear cell, and carcinosarcoma histologies were included. Subjects were classified as having an elevated platelet count if their serum platelet count was greater than 400 × 109/L at the time of initial diagnosis. Primary outcome was chemotherapy response, classified as either complete or partial/refractory. Secondary outcomes were disease free and disease specific survival (DFS, DSS). Chi-square and Student t-tests were performed as appropriate. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess serum platelet effect on survival. Results There were 125 deaths, 76 recurrences, and 48 disease progressions. Of the total group, 53 (16.7%) were categorized as having an elevated platelet count. An elevated platelet count was associated with a lower chemotherapy response rate in univariate analysis (HR 2.8; 95% CI 1.46, 5.38; p <0.01). Multivariate analysis showed elevated platelets to be independently associated with decreased DFS (HR 2.24; 95% CI 1.26, 3.98; p<0.01) but not DSS (HR 1.03, 95%CI 0.56, 1.88, p=0.93). Conclusions Endometrial cancer patients with an elevated serum platelet count > 400 × 109/L may have lower chemotherapy response rates and are at increased risk for recurrence when compared to patients with a count within normal range.

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