Spleen Volume as a Predictive Biomarker for Thrombocytopenia and Liver Dysfunction After Oxaliplatin-based Chemotherapy

Abstract

Background/aim: We evaluated whether splenic volume (SV) predicts sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients receiving capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CapeOX) therapy.

Patients and methods: In this retrospective study, we measured SV in 41 patients receiving adjuvant CapeOX for CRC at five different time points. We compared the clinical data of the 18 patients who experienced ≥30% increases in SV immediately after vs. before CapeOX (group A) with data for the remaining 23 patients (group B).

Results: Platelet numbers decreased and the levels of hepatobiliary enzymes increased significantly 1 year after CapeOX compared with before CapeOX in group A. However, in group B, significantly decreased platelet numbers and significantly increased aspartate transaminase levels were confirmed only immediately after CapeOX, with no significant subsequent changes.

Conclusion: SV was significantly associated with thrombocytopenia and liver dysfunction in CRC patients, and predicted SOS.

Keywords: Spleen volume; oxaliplatin; sinusoidal obstruction syndrome.