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Review
. 2016 Dec 6;7(49):81849-81861.
doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.13248.

Prognostic significance of pretreatment elevated platelet count in patients with colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis

Yu Long  1 , Ting Wang  1   2 , Qian Gao  3 , Chengya Zhou  1
Affiliations
Review

Prognostic significance of pretreatment elevated platelet count in patients with colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis

Yu Long et al. Oncotarget. .

Abstract

Background: The prognostic effect of pretreatment elevated platelet count remains controversial in colorectal cancer patients. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic impact of it in these patients.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched and studies on the prognostic significance of pretreatment elevated platelet count in colorectal patients were identified. We performed the meta-analysis, using overall survival and disease-free survival as outcomes and presenting data with hazard ratio and its 95% confidence interval. Heterogeneity among studies and publication bias were also evaluated.

Results: Thirty studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with normal platelet count, pretreatment elevated platelet count was associated with poorer overall survival (Hazard ratio = 1.837, 95% confidence interval, 1.497 to 2.255, p = 0.000) and poorer disease-free survival (Hazard ratio = 1.635, 95% confidence interval, 1.237 to 2.160, p = 0.001) in patients with colorectal cancer. In subgroup analyses, pretreatment elevated platelet count was also associated with poorer overall survival and disease-free survival in most subgroups.

Conclusion: Pretreatment elevated platelet count was an independent prognostic factor of overall survival and disease-free survival in colorectal cancer patients. Large-scale prospective studies and a validation study are warranted.

Keywords: colorectal cancer; meta-analysis; platelet; prognosis; thrombocytosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors declared no competing financial interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flowchart of the process for the identification of relevant studies
Figure 2
Figure 2. Forest plot showing the prognostic effect of pretreatment elevated platelet count on overall survival of colorectal cancer patients
*CI: Confidence interval.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Forest plot showing the prognostic effect of pretreatment elevated platelet count on disease-free survival of colorectal cancer patients
*CI: Confidence interval.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Funnel plot showing the publication bias of overall survival
Figure 5
Figure 5. Funnel plot showing the publication bias of disease-free survival
Figure 6
Figure 6. Forest plot showing the sensitivity analyses of overall survival
*CI: Confidence interval
Figure 7
Figure 7. Forest plot showing the sensitivity analyses of disease-free survival
*CI: Confidence interval
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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