Background: An elevated plasma D-dimer level indicates activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Previous studies demonstrated that the preoperative plasma D-dimer level correlates with tumor stage in patients with colorectal cancer. This study examined the relationship between preoperative plasma D-dimer level and both pathological findings and TNM classification and examined the prognostic significance of preoperative plasma D-dimer level.
Methods: Preoperative plasma D-dimer levels were measured in 93 patients who underwent curative resection of colorectal cancer and 40 patients with benign colorectal diseases other than inflammatory bowel disease. The results were analyzed for correlations between preoperative plasma D-dimer levels in patients with colorectal cancer and pathological findings, TNM classification and postoperative survival.
Results: Preoperative plasma D-dimer levels were significantly higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in patients with benign colorectal diseases. Plasma D-dimer levels were higher in patients with tumors that were relatively large, had relatively deep wall penetration and were at a relatively advanced TNM stage. Higher preoperative plasma D-dimer levels were significantly associated with shorter postoperative overall survival. Results of analysis with a multivariate proportional hazard model suggested that preoperative plasma D-dimer level was the third strongest prognostic factor; exceeded in importance only by lymph node status and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen level.
Conclusions: Elevated plasma D-dimer levels in patients with colorectal cancer are associated with relatively advanced tumor stage and short postoperative survival after curative resection. It appears that measurement of preoperative D-dimer level would be useful in the preoperative diagnosis of tumor stage and prediction of postoperative survival.