D-dimer levels as a prognostic factor for determining oncological outcomes in musculoskeletal sarcoma

BACKGROUND Plasma d-dimer levels have been associated with the status of tumor progression or oncological outcomes in cancer. Although there are many evidences suggesting the involvement of procoagulant trend in musculoskeletal sarcoma, no clinical data on d-dimer levels and oncological outcome of musculoskeletal sarcoma has been reported. METHODS In this study, we included a total of 85 patients who were diagnosed with musculoskeletal sarcoma and treated at our institute. Plasma d-dimer levels were determined before performing any clinical intervention, including open biopsy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or tumor resection. We evaluated the effect of d-dimer levels and other clinicopathological factors on oncological outcomes of patients. RESULTS Upregulation of plasma d-dimer levels proved to be an independent risk factor for metastasis and lethal outcome of patients with musculoskeletal sarcoma. CONCLUSIONS Upregulation of plasma d-dimer levels were indicated poor oncological outcome in metastasis and total survival rate of musculoskeletal sarcoma patients. Hence d-dimer levels may be a helpful marker for evaluating the tumor progression status and prognosis of musculoskeletal sarcoma.