Platelet Indices As Potential Biomarkers For Detection And Monitoring Of Colorectal Cancer After Resection

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in Western nations. In Europe, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The current study set out to clarify the effectiveness of the platelet and hemoglobin (Hb) indices, including platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit (PCT), and the platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), as resources for the preoperative diagnosis of CRC and their value in CRC follow-up.

Methods: A total of 583 CRC patients, as diagnosed by colonoscopy, and 413 healthy participants were included in the study. To compare before and postoperative data, medical records were consulted including Hb, PLT, MPV, PDW, PCT and PLR. As the result MPV and PLR were significantly higher in CRC patients preoperatively, compared with healthy participants. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis suggested.

Results: The cut-off values for MPV and PLR are 8.46 fl and 142, respectively (AUC: 0.735, sensitivity: 53%, specificity: 74%, and AUC: 0.842, 71%, and 89%, respectively). Subgroup analysis revealed that nonanemic CRC patients had considerably greater levels of PC and MPV than the control group.

Conclusion: This finding has important theoretical and practical implications for the early diagnosis of CRC. Following surgical tumor excision, PLT, MPV, and PLR significantly decreased. Due to our findings, MPV and PLR could be utilized as simply accessed alternative biomarkers for CRC in both postoperative follow-up and general population screening.