title: Circulating microparticles in patients with benign and malignant ovarian tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microparticles are known to be increased in various malignancies. In this prospective study, microparticle levels were evaluated in patients with benign and malignant ovarian lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microparticles from platelets/megakaryocytes, activated platelets and endothelial cells, tissue factor exposing microparticles and D-dimer values were examined in patients with newly diagnosed ovarian lesions before surgery, and were correlated with tumor histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher counts of CD63-positive microparticles were detected in patients with ovarian cancer [mean=276×10(6) (range: 64-948)/l; n=12] as compared to patients with benign ovarian tumors [146×10(6) (45-390)/l; n=21; p=0.014]. D-dimer values were also increased in patients with cancer [860 (180-4500) ng/l versus 280 (170-2720) ng/l; p=0.001].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated levels of CD63-positive microparticles and D-dimer reflect the procoagulant phenotype of these patients. However, for the discrimination between benign and malignant ovarian tumors, measuring preoperative levels of microparticles does not seem to be helpful.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Medical Clinic, Augsburg Clinic, Augsburg, Germany. andreas.rank@klinikum-augsburg.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rank
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liebhardt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zwirner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burges
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nieuwland
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Toth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D039661:Integrin beta3 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060149:Tetraspanin 30 / Q000097:blood; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; C554586:CD63 protein, human; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C061248:ITGB3 protein, human; D039661:Integrin beta3; D060149:Tetraspanin 30; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D013925:Thromboplastin