The Platelet Count in Carcinoma of the Lung and Colon

Abstract

SummaryPlatelet counts were evaluated in 714 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (N-SCLC), small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL), and colon cancer entered to a clinical trial. Patients had not received prior chemotherapy. Platelet counts were not different in patients who had received radiation therapy prior to entry to the study. In comparison to the other tumor types, patients with N-SCLC demonstrated an increased prevalence of thrombocytosis (counts greater than 400,000/mm3), higher platelet counts at the time of entry to the study, higher over all mean platelet counts, relative preservation of high platelet levels during disease progression, and no relationship between platelet numbers and the amount of chemotherapy given. By contrast, platelet counts in patients with SCCL were negatively correlated with the absolute amount of cyclophosphamide and adriamycin given, and declined most dramatically with disease progression and death. Platelet numbers did not correlate with fibrinopep-tide A or fibrin split product levels suggesting that disseminated intravascular coagulation or fibrinolysis may have had less influence on platelet numbers than certain other factors. By contrast, significant correlations were found for all three tumor types between platelet numbers and other indicators of bone marrow function including anemia, total leukocyte count, and absolute neutrophil count; and the fibrinogen level. Based upon these findings, we postulate that the host response to malignancy, possibly in the form of production of bone marrow-stimulating cytokines, may play a prominent role in regulation of platelet counts in these (and perhaps other) neoplasms, and that a particularly prominent and persistent degree of marrow stimulation exists in patients with N-SCLC.

Platelets at the interface of thrombosis, inflammation, and cancer

“…High platelet count is associated with increased mortality in a variety of cancers, including malignant mesothelioma; gynecological malignancies; and lung, renal, gastric, colorectal, and breast cancers. 62,[76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83] We should seek to discern the roles played by platelets in stimulating different cellular compartments within the tumor, which has the potential to expand therapeutic use of cardiovascular inhibitors in oncology.…”

Trombocitose como fator prognóstico no câncer colorretal

“…Dado semelhante ao que foi constatado por Constantini et al 13 , que encontrou uma prevalência de 33%.…”

“…Porém, dados mostrando seu impacto no câncer colorretal são escassos 13 . Nesse estudo foi investigado a trombocitose no pré-operatorio e seu significado no prognóstico de pacientes com câncer colorretal.…”

Androgen Mediation of Thrombocytosis in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Biology

“…A preoperative automated complete blood count within 14 days of surgery was available for all patients. Thrombocytosis was considered as platelet count > 400 Â 10 9 /L, consistent with published criteria (1,2,6,7).…”