Circulating Levels of Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor and D-Dimer in Patients With Hematological Malignancies.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer exhibit changes in their hemostatic mechanisms. The D-dimer (D-D) is the most important subproduct of fibrinolysis, and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is related to invasiveness and metastases, and is overexpressed in neoplastic cells. The objective of this study was to identify in patients with hematological neoplasia, the serum levels of uPAR and D-D, and to determine their effects on outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed. Clinical and demographic data were obtained from the clinical chart. Determination of uPAR in serum (pg/L) was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and D-D (µg/dL) using nephelometry. RESULTS: We included 42 patients (35 with lymphomas). Statistically significant differences were found in D-D (P < .001) and uPAR (P < .01) between patients and control participants. Response was an accumulated clinical outcome. We observed statistical differences between groups (P < .001). D-D was positive in 70% of cases. CONCLUSION: We found differences in D-D serum levels and soluble uPAR between control participants and patients with lymphoma. These results indicate that D-D serum levels and soluble uPAR should be considered biomarkers of response and survival in patients with lymphoma.