Abstract
INTRODUCTION: There is evidence that the components of the coagulation/fibrinolytic system play a role in cancer biology and angiogenesis. Studies reveal that at the time of diagnosis, majority of the cancer patients have laboratory evidence of systemic coagulation activation. Our purpose was to investigate the significance of D-Dimer (product of fibrin degradation) and factor VIII levels in breast cancer and to evaluate its relationship with other variables such as histological characteristics, lymph node status and immunohistochemistry markers (ER, PR and Her-2neu). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Surgery in collaboration with Departments of Medicine, Pathology and Radiodiagnosis & Imaging, Maulana Azad Medical College & Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi. Fifty patients with diagnosed cancer breast who were treated in surgery department were evaluated for D Dimer and factor VIII levels. D-dimer and Factor VIII levels were measured three times i.e. at the time of commencement of treatment then after three cycles of Chemotherapy (CAF Regimen) and finally after six weeks of surgery. RESULTS: Significantly higher levels of D Dimer and factor VIII were observed in tumors with significant lymphovascular and adipose tissue invasion in comparison to localized tumors. The reduction in D-dimer and Factor VIII values after Surgery was significant for both D-dimer (p value 0.000) and Factor VIII (p value 0.000). The reduction in D-dimer after 3 cycles of chemotherapy was significant for D-dimer (575.51 ± 572.47 ng/ml vs. 422.45 ± 363.58 ng/ml; p value 0.046) but not significant for Factor VIII (307.83 ± 184.47 ng/ml vs. 288.78 ± 163.02 ng/ml; p value 0.151). CONCLUSION: D-dimer and factor VIII may be used as yardstick for systemic adjuvant therapy in node negative < 1 cm breast cancer. D-dimer may prove to be a safe, convenient and easily available biomarker which can be combined with conventional sentinel node biopsy in clinically node negative breast cancer to assess metastatic disease in axilla and reduce false negative results.