D-Dimer; A Potential Clinical Marker for Predicting Metastasis & Stages in Lung Cancer

Abstract

The relationship between plasma D-dimer level and the prognosis of advanced lung cancer is close to each other. This study investigated the role of plasma D-dimer as a prognostic factor in advanced lung cancer: a) The aim of the current study was to investigate the association of D dimer plasma level with the development of stages in lung cancer. b) D-dimers levels as predictor of fibrinolysis and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC). The subjects were selected from oncology department, Ghulab Devi Hospital and Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Total 45 subjects were included in the present study. The selected subjects were divided into two groups. Group A included 15 normal, healthy, age and sex matched controls and group B included 30 patients, histologically diagnosed cases of lung cancer. The patients had no history of coagulation disorders or on anti-coagulant therapy. The plasma D-dimer was measured in normal, heathy Controls and 30 histologically diagnosed cases of lung cancer by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The median age of the patients (18 males and 12 females ) was 39.433± 5.11 and 13.3% had stage lb, 20% had llb, 6.7 % llla, 36.11 lllb, 23.3 % had lV disease. Histologic sub-type was Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) 30 %, Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) were 10 %, Squamous cell carcinoma were 10 %, adenocarcinoma 16.7 % and large cells carcinoma were 10%.In the present study. The Mean ± SD value of D-dimer level of the patients was 1068.70±441.86ng/dl, which was significantly higher than that of the control group. The plasma levels of D-dimer were significantly higher in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma as compared with healthy controls. Plasma D-dimer level was significantly higher in metastatic disease (P <0.01). D dimer levels were positively associated with clinical cancer stage (P<0.05) and metastasis (P<0.05). These findings suggested that the plasma D dimer level may be use as marker for predicting cancer metastasis and staging in lung cancer.