Predictive Value of Baseline Plasma D-dimers for Chemotherapyinduced Thrombocytopenia in Patients with Stage III Colon Cancer: A Pilot Study

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> : Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) is an important cause of morbitity inpatients with cancer. Aim: To investigate the effect of the baseline plasma D-dimer level, an important markerfor thrombotic activity, on chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with stage III colon cancer.Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: A total of 43 (28 men) eligible patients were divided into two groups according to whetherthey exhibited chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia: Group 1 (n=21) and Group 2 (n=22). Comparisonwas made using demographic, histopathologic, and laboratory variables. Additionally, baseline plasma D-dimerlevels underwent receiver operation characteristics curve analysis, and areas under the curve were calculated.Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood rates were then determined. <br/><b>Results</b>: The incidenceof chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia had a significant correlation with baseline platelet count (r=0.568,P=0.031) and baseline plasma D-dimer levels (r=0.617, P=0.036). When the cut-off point for the latter was set as498 ng/mL, the area under the curve was 0.89 (95%CI: 0.74-0.93), the sensitivity was 91.4%, the specificity was89.7%, the positive likelihood rate was 3.64 and the negative likelihood rate was 0.24 for chemotherapy-inducedthrombocytopenia diagnosis. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: The baseline level of plasma D-dimer could help to differentiate highriskpatients for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.