Extent of peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer is not associated with changes in thrombin generation or fibrinolysis.

Objectives: Cancer cells can activate coagulation and inhibit fibrinolysis. The aim was to investigate the association between the burden of peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer (PM-CRC) and biomarkers reflecting thrombin generation and fibrinolysis.

Methods: A cohort of 55 patients with PM-CRC scheduled for cytoreductive surgery. Patients were grouped by the peritoneal cancer index (PCI) assessed intraoperatively into limited PM-CRC (PCI≤15) and extensive PM-CRC (PCI>15). Blood samples were obtained before surgery. Thrombin generation was measured in vivo by thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) and prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), and ex vivo by the endogenous thrombin potential (ETP). Fibrinolysis was analyzed with fibrin clot lysis assay, fibrinogen, and D-dimer.

Results: Non-significantly decreased thrombin generation by F1+2 (p=0.72), TAT (p=0.32), and ETP (p=0.19) were observed in patients with extensive PM-CRC (n=9) compared with limited PM-CRC (n=46). Non-significantly prolonged 50 % clot lysis time were found in patients with extensive PM-CRC than in patients with limited PM-CRC.

Conclusions: Minor non-significant differences in thrombin generation and fibrinolysis were found between patients with extensive PM-CRC and limited PM-CRC. Thus, increased peritoneal metastatic burden from colorectal cancer does not seem to affect thrombin generation and fibrinolysis.