title: Chemotherapy Response Rates Among Patients With Endometrial Cancer Who Have Elevated Serum Platelets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective study evaluates the influence of serum platelet count on chemotherapy response rates among women with endometrial cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 3 separate cancer centers, a total of 318 patients with endometrial cancer who received postoperative chemotherapy between June 1999 and October 2009 were retrospectively identified. Endometrioid, serous, clear cell, and carcinosarcoma histologies were included. Patients were classified as having an elevated platelet count if their serum platelet count was greater than 400 × 10⁹/L at the time of initial diagnosis. Primary outcome was chemotherapy response, classified as either complete or partial/refractory. Secondary outcomes were disease-free and disease-specific survival. χ² Test and Student t test were performed as appropriate. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess serum platelet effect on survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 125 deaths, 76 recurrences, and 48 disease progressions. Of the total group, 53 (16.7%) were categorized as having an elevated platelet count. An elevated platelet count was associated with a lower chemotherapy response rate in univariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 2.8; 95% 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-5.38; P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed elevated platelets to be independently associated with decreased disease-free survival (HR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.26-3.98; P < 0.01) but not disease-specific survival (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.56-1.88, P = 0.93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with endometrial cancer who have an elevated serum platelet count greater than 400 × 10⁹/L may have lower chemotherapy response rates and are at increased risk for recurrence when compared with patients with a count within the reference range.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center, Saint Louis, MO; †Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Atlantic Health System Hospitals at Simon Cancer Center, Morristown, NJ; ‡Overlook Hospital Summit, Summit, NJ; §Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK; and ∥Division of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center, Saint Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Nora T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Kizer
authors.forename: Hatem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatem
authors.forename: Elizabeth K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Nugent
authors.forename: Gongfu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mutch
authors.forename: Premal H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Thaker
mesh_terms: D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate