Background: Thrombocytosis in patients with cancer is reportedly associated with an increased expression of angiogenic factors and a poor prognosis in some cancer types. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological significance and prognostic value of platelet counts in patients with gastric cancer.
Methods: Preoperative platelet counts were measured in 306 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery between 2001 and 2010.We used the cut-off level of 250.9×10(3) mL (mean) to define thrombocytosis and then analyzed the correlation between platelet count and clinicopathological factors. The multivariate prognostic value was determined using the Cox proportional hazards model.
Results: Platelet counts were significantly elevated in patients with lymph node metastasis (p=0.0349) and pStage Ⅲdisease (p=0.0326). Adjusting for venous invasion and pStage, multivariate analysis indicated that thrombocytosis as defined in this study was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio=1.50, 95%CI: 1.07-2.36, p=0.0402).
Conclusion: A high platelet count is associated with tumor progression and poor survival in patients with gastric cancer.