Thrombocytosis and anaemia in women with recurrent ovarian cancer prior to a second-line chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: To investigate the incidence and the prognostic value of platelet count and serum haemoglobin (Hb) in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer prior to second-line chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Clinical records were reviewed for 31 patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Survival analysis was evaluated by univariate (Kaplan-Meier product limit method and log-rank test) analysis. We analysed the results for the overall survival.. Anaemia and thrombocytosis were defined as a serum Hb level 300.000/muL, respectively. Results: Thrombocytosis and tumour anaemia were present in 55% and 42% of the patients, respectively. Tumour anaemia was of no prognostic value with respect to overall survival in our series. In patients with thrombocytosis, the median survival rate was reduced (p=0.05). Conclusion: Our data suggest that a platelet count >300,000/muL appears to be an adverse prognostic parameter in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer prior to a second-line chemotherapy