Haematologic Parameters in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated with Capecitabine Combination Therapy

Background: The standard treatment in the metastatic colorectal cancer consists of 5-FU based infusionalregimens. However, with oral fluoropyrimidines, equal tumor responses may be obtained. Capecitabine causesmacrocytosis of the cells by inhibition of DNA synthesis. In this context, a relationship was found between meancorpuscular volume (MCV) and response to therapy in breast cancer patients treated with Capecitabine, butwhether this relationship also pertains in colorectal cancer has not been established. Materials and
Methods: Atotal of 102 metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with a oxaliplatin (XELOX)±Bevacizumab combinationwere retrospectively evaluated. Patients were randomized into three groups. Hematological parameters (MCV,MPV, PCT, PLT, NLR) were recorded retrospectively, before treatment and after 3 cycles of chemotherapy.
Results: After three cycles of therapy, 20 (19.6%) patients had progressive disease (PD), 41 (40.1%) hadstable disease (SD), and 41 (40.1%) demonstrated a partial response (PR). In 62 (60.7%) treatment was withcapesitabin plus XELOX therapy, and in 40 (39.2%) it was XELOX-Bevacizumab combination therapy. Therewas no difference among three groups before the treatment in terms of MCV, MPV, PCT, PLT, and NLR.MCV showed significant increase in chemotherapy response groups (PR and SD). In addition, a significantdecrease was observed for platelet count in chemotherapy response groups. While NLR decrease was seen inonly a PR group, PCT decrease was observed in all three groups. PCT and PLT values were higher in patientsreceiving Bevacizumab.
Conclusions: PLT, PCT, MPV, and NLR values were decreased due to Capecitabinebasedchemotherapy, however MCV was increased. PCT and PLT values were higher in patients who receivedBevacizumab than those who did not. MCV, PLT, and NLR can be considered as important factors in predictingresponse to colorectal carcinoma treatment.