The aim of the present study was to determine platelet factor 4 (PF 4) concentration, as a marker of platelet activation, in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), depending on the clinical advancement of carcinoma and surgical treatment.
Material and methods: We investigated 21 patients with CRC before the surgery (A0) and three days (A1) and twelve days (A2) after the surgery. The patients were divided into three groups, according the clinical advancement--I, II, III (Hutter's classification). The control group (C) consisted 20 healthy subjects. PF 4 concentration was determined using the immunoenzymatic method (ELISA).
Results: Patients with CRC before the surgery had a statistically significantly increased PF 4 concentration versus the control group (p<0.001). The highest PF 4 concentration was observed in patients without metastases (I degree advanced disease). Three days after the surgery PF 4 concentration decreased slightly in patients with III degree advanced disease. Twelve days after surgery (A2) it was again observed an increase of PF 4 concentration in patients with II and III stage of advancement.
Conclusion: Results of the study confirm that platelets are involved in development of cancer and indicate significantly that surgical treatment applied in this patients affects platelet activation and morphological parameters. The lower PF 4 concentration in patients with CRC with metastases (II and III group) confirm that more activity platelets play an important role in the metastases.