[Prognostic importance of cross-linked fibrin degradation products (D-dimer) in oncology]. / A keresztkötött fibrindegradációs termékek (D-dimer) prognosztikai jelentõsége az onkológiában.

Cross-linked fibrin degradation products (D-dimer) are formed in two ways: on the one hand through coagulation cascade and on the other hand through fibrinolytic cascade. In the former case, plasmin cleaves the soluble cross-linked fibrin, and in the latter it cleaves the non-soluble cross-linked fibrin. In patients with malignant diseases, several factors influence the clinical evaluation of the result of D-dimer assay. First, D-dimer level can be elevated in cancer patients without thrombosis, which can be explained by procoagulant factors produced by malignant cells. Second, none of the algorithms used for diagnosing venous thromboembolism have been validated on patients with malignant diseases. Furthermore, the negative predictive value of D-dimer on thrombosis or thromboembolism is lower in cancer patients comparing to those who are not suffering from malignant disease. In patients with malignant disease, where venous thrombosis has not been proven, higher D-dimer level correlates with shorter survival. Based on the available data of the literature, the authors summarize some important studies which revealed the relationship between baseline D-dimer level and prognosis in cancer patients.