Thromb Haemost 2007; 97(01): 119-123
DOI: 10.1160/TH06-03-0141
Cellular Proteolysis and Oncology
Schattauer GmbH

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

Authors

  • Gregor Hron

    1   Departments of Internal Medicine I and
  • Marietta Kollars

    1   Departments of Internal Medicine I and
  • Heinz Weber

    1   Departments of Internal Medicine I and
  • Verena Sagaster

    1   Departments of Internal Medicine I and
  • Peter Quehenberger

    2   Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • Sabine Eichinger

    1   Departments of Internal Medicine I and
  • Paul A. Kyrle

    1   Departments of Internal Medicine I and
  • Ansgar Weltermann

    1   Departments of Internal Medicine I and

Financial support: The study was supported by a grant (no. 10978) of the Jubiläumsfonds of the Österreichische Nationalbank.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 07 March 2006

Accepted after resubmission 14 November 2006

Publication Date:
28 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

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) × 103 /ml plasma versus 13.1 (11.9 – 19.7) × 103 /ml plasma, p = 0.007. This was mainly due to a higher amount of TF+ MPs from platelets (13.4 [5.0 – 17.4] × 103 /ml plasma vs. 5.8 [4.5 – 7.5] × 103 /ml plasma, p = 0.017). TF+ MPs correlated with D-dimer (ρ = 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.