Affiliations: [a] Department of Internal Medicine, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China | [b] Department of Digestive Internal Medicine, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
Correspondence:
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Corresponding authors: Rui-Tao Wang, Department of Internal Medicine, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping ST, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, China. Tel.: +86 451 86298353; Fax: +86 451 86298352; E-mail: ruitao_wang@ hrbmu.edu.cn. Rui Xie, Department of Digestive Internal Medicine, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, No. 150 Haping ST, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, China. Tel.: +86 13845098117; E-mail: rxie@hrbmu.edu.cn.
Note: [1] Meng-Lin Zhang and Wen-Juan Huang contributed equally to this work.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Platelets play a key role in tumor progression and metastasis. C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2) is the receptor expressed on platelets and the marker of platelet activation. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine whether soluble CLEC-2 levels differ between patients with benign colorectal polyps and those with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: We measured plasma soluble CLEC-2 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 150 patients with colorectal polyps, 150 CRC patients without metastasis, 150 CRC liver metastasis, and 150 control subjects. RESULTS: The CRC patients had higher soluble CLEC-2 levels than patients with colorectal polyps (p< 0.001). Moreover, CRC patients with liver metastases displayed higher CLEC-2 levels than those in CRC patients without metastases (p< 0.001). In the CRC patients, CLEC-2 levels were correlated with lymph node metastasis and advanced stage. In the patients with polyps, there was a significant difference in CLEC-2 levels among patients with hyperplastic polyp, sessile serrated adenoma, and traditional serrated adenoma (p< 0.001). The ROC curve analysis revealed CLEC-2 had an optimal sensitivity of 77.3% and specificity of 94.6% for the screening of CRC, and sensitivity of 71.0% and specificity of 76.7% for the differential diagnosis of colorectal polyps and CRC. CONCLUSIONS: CRC patients have higher CLEC-2 levels than patients with colorectal polyps and healthy controls. Moreover, there is a significant difference in CLEC-2 levels among polyp subtypes. Further research is warranted.
