Abstract
BackgroundD-dimer is a fibrin-degrading substance that is soluble and whose degradation is produced by plasma protein-mediated degradation of cross-linked fibrin. Previous investigations have shown a link between D-dimer and the mortality in lung cancer patients. However, different investigations varied whether D-dimer could predict prognosis in these patients.MethodsA meta-analysis and systematic review of all available cohort studies were performed on the link between circulating D-dimer levels and survival of lung cancer patients. Relevant studies were searched in Embase, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases. Data from 540 lung cancer patients from the First Hospital of Soochow University and Sichuan Cancer Hospital were used for external validation.ResultsWe finally obtained 19 eligible cohort studies with pooled HR showing that high D-dimer levels contribute to death in tumor group (HR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.39–1.88, I2 = 75.0%). Further stratified analysis showed that higher circulating D-dimer in the advanced lung cancer group was linked to a 1.91-fold risk (HR = 2.91, 95% CI: 2.24–3.78, I2 = 6.0%). Incorporation of other variables, including days of follow-up, country, design, public year, population, disease status, and quality score, into the meta-regression model, indicated that disease status was an additional source of heterogeneity (p < 0.001). External validation of 540 patients also showed that high levels of D-dimer showed a higher risk of overall mortality (HR 1.39, 95% CI: 1.13–1.72, p = 0.002) and VTE events (HR 3.98, 95% CI: 1.99–8.70, p = 0.002) in lung cancer patients.ConclusionsHigh circulating plasma D-dimer levels independently predict long-term prognosis and the risk of venous thromboembolism in lung cancer.
Highlights
Malignant tumors of the respiratory system are the most frequently occurring malignancies and the primary cause of mortality in patients over 65 years old [1]
We obtained 19 eligible cohort studies with pooled hazard ratio (HR) showing that high D-dimer levels contribute to death in tumor group (HR 1.62, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.39–1.88, I2 = 75.0%)
Further stratified analysis showed that higher circulating D-dimer in the advanced lung cancer group was linked to a 1.91-fold risk (HR = 2.91, 95% CI: 2.24–3.78, I2 = 6.0%)
Summary
Malignant tumors of the respiratory system are the most frequently occurring malignancies and the primary cause of mortality in patients over 65 years old [1]. Previous studies confirmed that coagulation disorders occurred in those patients Incidence of hypercoagulability in malignant tumors often increased, such as venous thrombosis (VTE), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), compared with the patients without cancer [4]. Cancer-associated thrombosis predicted poor clinical prognosis and was regarded as the 2nd cause of mortality among patients with tumors [5]. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the most severe complications in those patients, and it is a significant risk factor of cancer-related mortality worldwide [6, 7]. Previous investigations have shown a link between D-dimer and the mortality in lung cancer patients. Different investigations varied whether D-dimer could predict prognosis in these patients
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