Plasma levels of prothrombin fragment F1+2, D-dimer and prothrombin time correlate with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in operable gastric cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The principal objective of this study was to determine the relationship between preoperative coagulation tests and the extent of tumor involvement in gastric cancer patients.


METHODS
A total of 110 patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach were studied in order to evaluate this relationship. Platelet count (P), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time, D-dimer, fibrinogen degradation product, thrombin-antithrombin complex and prothrombin fragment F1+2 (F1+2) were evaluated.


RESULTS
The D-dimer levels were positively correlated with the depth of invasion (P =0.007). Plasma D-dimer and PT were highly correlated with degree of lymph node involvement (P = 0.006, 0.004, respectively). D-dimer level, PT and plasma F1+2 level were correlated with clinical stage (P = 0.001, 0.017, 0.031, respectively). PT and F1+2 levels were significant in the prediction of the presence of lymph node involvement on the multivariate logistic regression models (odds ratio 2502.081 (5.977-1047425.4); P = 0.010 and odds ratio 19.487 (1.495-253.936); P = 0.023, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
PT and plasma levels of F1+2 and D-dimer could be markers of degree or presence of lymph node involvement and clinical stage in patients with operable gastric cancer.
Kwon
Hyuk-Chan
HC
Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 3-1 Dongdaeshin-dong, Seo-gu, Busan 602-715, South Korea.
Oh
Sung Yong
SY
Lee
Suee
S
Kim
Sung-Hyun
SH
Han
Jin Yeong
JY
Koh
Ri Young
RY
Kim
Min Chan
MC
Kim
Hyo-Jin
HJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D011516:Prothrombin; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; C036309:fibrin fragment D; C029733:prothrombin fragment 1; C044183:prothrombin fragment 2; D011516:Prothrombin