Elevated Platelet Count Appears to Be Causally Associated with Increased Risk of Lung Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis

Abstract

Results: Multiple instrumental variable analysis incorporating six SNPs showed a 62% increased risk of overall nonsmall cell lung cancer [NSCLC; OR, 1.62; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-2.27; P ¼ 0.005] and a 200% increased risk for small-cell lung cancer (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.27-7.06; P ¼ 0.01). Results showed only a trending association with NSCLC histologic subtypes, which may be due to insufficient sample size and/or weak effect size. A series of sensitivity analysis retained these findings.Conclusions: Our findings suggest a causal relationship between elevated platelet count and increased risk of lung cancer and provide evidence of possible antiplatelet interventions for lung cancer prevention.Impact: These findings provide a better understanding of lung cancer etiology and potential evidence for antiplatelet interventions for lung cancer prevention.

Mosaic chromosome Y loss is associated with alterations in blood cell counts in UK Biobank men

“…The role of thrombocytes is complex: classically platelet counts can be elevated in inflammatory conditions or select pediatric cancers (e.g., neuroblastoma). The literature also supports the association of elevated platelet counts with lung cancer risk 59 . Still it is plausible that thrombocytes could contribute to tumor progression by stimulating angiogenesis 67 and activating thrombosis-related inflammation 68 .…”

“…As indicated in Table S7, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a measure used to evaluate systemic inflammation in cancer patients, was found to be significantly elevated in men with mLOY (OR mLOY = 0.061 [0.045, 0.077], p mLOY = 2.98 × 10 −14 ). The thrombocyte-lymphocyte ratio (TLR), a prognostic indicator for select cancer types [59][60][61][62] , was also found to be elevated in men with mLOY (OR mLOY = 1.288 [0.564, 2.012], p mLOY = 4.90 × 10 −4 ). These mLOY associations with NLR and TLR showed robust dose response relationships and demonstrated significant trends with continuous mLRR (p mLRR = 1.39 × 10 −33 and 3.31 × 10 −32 , respectively), suggesting robust relationships for mLOY with measures of both systematic inflammation and cancer prognosis.…”

Predictive and prognostic values of preoperative platelet parameters in patients with gynecological tumors

“…5 In addition, a growing body of evidence has found that platelets also play a role in tumor cell growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis. 6,7 Decades of studies indicated that platelet indicators are important prognostic factors in patients with different types of cancer, such as gynecologic cancers, [8][9][10][11][12][13] lung cancer, 14,15 gastric cancer, 16 colorectal cancer, 5 pancreatic cancer, 17,18 laryngeal cancer, 19 and rectal cancer. 20 Thrombocytosis may precede the diagnosis of malignancy.…”

<p>Prognosis Value of Platelet Counts, Albumin and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio of Locoregional Recurrence in Patients with Operable Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma</p>

“…Aspirin has been demonstrated to have a significant effect protecting against cancer through diverse mechanisms such as blocking the formation of metastatic intravascular. 21,30 Antiplatelet agents that also impact inflammatory pathways would be more intensively recommended, such as purinergic antagonists. 31 The mechanisms by which platelets participate in inflammation are diverse and offer numerous opportunities for future drug intervention.…”

“…Moreover, activated platelets are linked to increased cancer risk through various mechanisms. 21 NLR was defined as the absolute neutrophil count divided by the absolute lymphocyte count. NLR has been proven to predict better than individual parameters and other ratios.…”