This report describes a new method for comparing overall clotting characteristics
between normal individuals and those with proven malignancy using thrombelastographic
(TEG) comparison of native and celite-activated specimens. Native whole blood TEG,
celite-activated TEG, and standard coagulation tests were performed on the same blood
collection in 90 normals and 90 patients with new malignancies and the results were
used to derive a discriminate equation This equation classified correctly all 90 normals
and 88 out of 90 cancer patients. The formulation was verified with an additional
82 patients with only one incorrect classification in the 31 cancer subjects. The
standard coagulation tests did not discriminate without significant overlap between
cancer patients and normals. The high degree of discrimination obtained with our TEG
analysis provides a new tool to compare individual clotting differences that may have
important clinical applications. However, the results cannot be extrapolated to selectively
identify those with malignancy among the general population since many other stimuli
may produce accelerated coagulability. This analysis does provide identification of
accelerated coagulability in association with new malignancies.
