Shorter Mesothelioma Survival Linked to High Platelet Count

A disorder that forces the body to overproduce platelets is now linked to worsening the prognosis of peritoneal mesothelioma patients, according to researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Previous clinical trials associated a high platelet count, also known as thrombocytosis, with poor outcomes for various malignancies. However, the recent study at The Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore is the first to evaluate the clinical significance of thrombocytosis with mesothelioma cancer. The study, published March 21 in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, analyzed overall survival for peritoneal mesothelioma patients undergoing cytoreduction surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) — a common and promising treatment option for the asbestos-related cancer. Of the 100 patients in the study, those with normal platelet counts lived 45 months longer, on average, compared to patients with elevated platelet counts. “Elevated preoperative platelet count is independently associated with poor outcome,” lead researcher Yue C. Li wrote in the study. “Notably, thrombocytosis reflects aggressive tumor biology and should be considered a factor in patient selection for CRS and HIPEC.” Improved Patient Selection Crucial for HIPEC Peritoneal mesothelioma represents roughly 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases. The cancer develops on the peritoneum, which is the protective lining surrounding the abdomen. Unlike pleural mesotheliom...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: chemotherapy for mesothelioma heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy mesothelioma survival peritoneal mesothelioma survival platelet count for mesothelioma thrombocytosis for mesothelioma Source Type: news