Tissue factor-positive microparticles: cellular origin and association with coagulation activation in patients with colorectal cancer

• Published in: Thrombosis and haemostasis Vol. 97; no. 1; p. 119
• Main Authors: Hron, Gregor, Kollars, Marietta, Weber, Heinz, Sagaster, Verena, Quehenberger, Peter, Eichinger, Sabine, Kyrle, Paul A, Weltermann, Ansgar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Blood Coagulation; Cell Membrane - chemistry; Colorectal Neoplasms - blood; Colorectal Neoplasms - complications; Female; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products - analysis; Flow Cytometry; Hemostasis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Particle Size; Thrombophilia - etiology; Thromboplastin - analysis
• ISSN: 0340-6245
• DOI: 10.1160/TH06-03-0141

The pathogenesis of hypercoagulability in cancer is not entirely understood. We hypothesized that in cancer patients circulating tissue factor-positive microparticles (TF (+) MPs) are increased and associated with hemostatic system activation. In 20 patients with advanced colorectal cancer and in 20 age- and sex-matched controls, number and cellular origin of TF (+) MPs were determined in plasma by flow cytometry. D-dimer was determined as an indicator of hemostatic system activation. Compared to controls, the median (interquartile range) number of TF (+) MPs was two-fold higher in cancer patients: 25.9 (15.4 - 42.0) x 10 (3) /ml plasma versus 13.1 (11.9 - 19.7) x 10 (3) /ml plasma, p = 0.007. This was mainly due to a higher amount of TF (+) MPs from platelets (13.4 [5.0 - 17.4] x 10 (3) /ml plasma vs. 5.8 [4.5 - 7.5] x 10 (3) /ml plasma, p = 0.017). TF (+) MPs correlated with D-dimer ( ? = 0.48, p = 0.002). High levels of TF (+) MPs in cancer patients and their correlation with D-dimer suggest that TF (+) MPs might be involved in hemostasis activation in cancer patients.