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Thrombocytosis as a predictor of distant recurrence in patients with rectal cancer
Archives of Medical Research, 08/10/2012
Cravioto–Villanueva A et al. – Pre– or postoperative platelet count >350,000 is associated with poor survival in patients with rectal cancer. The measurement of platelets is a clinical marker useful to define the prognosis for patients with rectal cancer.
Methods- Authors performed a retrospective study of patients undergoing low anterior resection for rectal cancer between January 2000 and March 2007.
- Preoperative platelet count was measured before surgery.
- Postoperative platelets were determined 1 month after surgery.
- Two–tailed p values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.
- One hundred sixty three patients with rectal cancer were included in the study. Preoperative platelet count >350,000 was found in 8% of patients.
- Postoperative platelet count >350,000 was found in 6% of patients.
- Distant metastases were found in 17 patients (10.4%).
- Significant variables in the multivariate analyses were preoperative platelets >350,000 (p = 0.001), postoperative platelets >350,000 (p = 0.002), carcinoembryonic antigen >13 ng/dL (p = 0.003).
- Patients with preoperative platelet count <350,000 showed a 5–year survival rate of 81%, whereas patients with platelet count >350,000 had a 25–month survival [95% confidence interval (CI): 20–26]; p <0.001.
- Patients with postoperative platelets <350,000 showed a 5–year survival rate of 80%, whereas patients with platelets >350,000 showed a 3–year survival rate of 37.5% (p <0.05).
