High plasma D-dimer level is associated with decreased survival in patients with lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
An elevated plasma D-dimer level indicates the activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis. In the present study, we investigated the association of pre-treatment haemostatic parameters (D-dimer, fibrinogen and prothrombin fragment 1+2) with clinicopathological parameters and outcome in patients with lung cancer.


METHODS
Plasma levels of D-dimer and other parameters were measured in 78 evaluable patients with lung cancer (60 non-small cell lung cancers, 18 small cell lung cancers). At diagnosis, 35 patients (44.9%) were locally advanced stage (IIIA/B) and 43 patients (55.1%) had metastatic disease (IV). Multivariate statistical analysis was carried out using Cox's proportional hazards model. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the cut-off values for D-dimer, fibrinogen and prothrombin fragment 1+2.


RESULTS
The median survival for all patients was 264 days (95% confidence interval 200-328 days). A significant association between the plasma levels of D-dimer and the response to chemotherapy was observed (P=0.03). With the univariate analysis, tumour stage, pre-treatment plasma levels of D-dimer, fibrinogen, platelet count, lactate dehydrogenase concentration and Karnofsky performance status were predictive for survival. With the multivariate analysis (P< or =0.1), the plasma level of D-dimer (P<0.001), tumour stage (P=0.01) and Karnofsky performance status (P=0.02) were identified as independent predictive factors. The median survival times were 405 days (95% confidence interval 165-644 days) and 207 days (95% confidence interval 146-267 days, P<0.001), respectively, for patients with a low D-dimer level (< or =0.65 microg/ml) and a high D-dimer level (>0.65 microg/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated plasma levels of D-dimer in patients with lung cancer are associated with decreased survival and a poor response to treatment. Pre-treatment for the D-dimer level may be useful in the prediction of survival and the response to treatment.
Altiay
G
G
Department of Chest Disease, Trakya University Hospital, 22030 Edirne, Turkey. gundeniza@hotmail.com
Ciftci
A
A
Demir
M
M
Kocak
Z
Z
Sut
N
N
Tabakoglu
E
E
Hatipoglu
O N
ON
Caglar
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D005340:Fibrinogen