Evaluation of PDGF-AB and sP-selectin concentrations in relation to platelet count in patients with colorectal cancer before and after surgical treatment.

INTRODUCTION Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and P-selectin, the low-molecular weight proteins located mainly in the platelet alpha-granules, are considered to be biologically active markers of platelet (PLT) activation. OBJECTIVES The study objective was to assess levels of PDGF-AB and sP-selectin in relation to PLT blood count in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who were examined before and after radical surgical treatment of the cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study involved 38 CRC patients including B1 - 20 patients (T(2-3)N(1)M(0)), B2 -18 patients (T(2-3)N2M0) and 24 age and sex-matched healthy subjects (the control group). Blood samples were collected from the antecubital vein prior to and 3 months after the radical surgery. PDGF-AB and souble (s)P-selectin, the markers of PLT activation, were determined by the immunoenzymatic methods. RESULTS In CRC patients, the levels of PDGF-AB and sP-selectin were a few times higher, whereas the PLT count was lower as compared to the control group. Moreover, these levels were statistically much higher before, compared to those after the surgery, in patients with a higher grade of clinical and histological differentiation (p <0.05) as well. However, no positive correlation was found between the PLT count and the PDGF-AB and sP-selectin levels. CONCLUSIONS High levels of PDGF-AB and sP-selectin, the sensitive markers of PLT activation prior to surgical treatment seem to indicate cancer tissue as the source of both PDGF and sP-selectin. For this reason, PDGF-AB and sP-selectin determination may help in early non-invasive CRC evaluation in the future.