The association between fibrinogen, von Willebrand Factor, antithrombin III, and D-dimer levels and survival outcome by 36 months from ovarian cancer

Abstract

Thirty-five patients diagnosed to have ovarian cancer (early FIGO stage I/II n = 11, advanced FIGO stage III/IV, n = 24) were evaluated for hemostatic parameters relating to survival outcome by 36 months of disease. Systemic plasminogen activators and inhibitors were evaluated and we found no significant association with survival outcome and eventually only fibrinogen, von Willebrand Factor (vWF), antithrombin III (ATIII), and D-dimer levels were determined for their association with disease outcome by 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months. Twenty-four patients succumbed to the disease by 36 months (early n = 2, advanced n = 22). The 11 surviving patients (advanced n = 3, including one deceased at 52 months) is still living past 36 months and 82 months at the time of analysis. Elevated fibrinogen, vWF, and D-dimer together with reduced ATIII levels were found to be associated with poor survival outcome by 12 months of disease. Moreover, elevated vWF and D-dimer with reduced ATIII levels was strongly implicated with poor survival outcome by 36 months from ovarian cancer. The overall survival rate at 36 months from ovarian cancer was 31.4%. It is therefore suggested that fibrinogen, vWF, ATIII, and D-dimer levels be used together as prognostic markers for disease outcome especially in patients with advanced ovarian cancer within 36 months of disease. An expanded study is required to confirm these findings.