PLATELET ACTIVATION AND PLATELET LIPID-COMPOSITION IN PULMONARY-CANCER

In order to investigate the possible mechanisms underlying platelet fu nctional changes in patients affected by neoplasms, platelet lipid com position, plasma beta-thromboglobulin (Beta-TG) and serum thromboxane B-2 (TXB(2)) were investigated in 16 male patients affected by pulmona ry carcinoma and in 16 comparable control subjects, In patients high l evels of plasma Beta-TG (67 +/- 9 versus controls 14 +/- 4 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and serum TXB(2) (434 +/- 56 versus 223 +/- 48 ng/ml, p < 0.001 ) were observed, Also platelet lipid composition was found altered in patients with respect to controls (lower percent levels in n-3 fatty a cids and in linoleic acid esterified in the main platelet phospholipid fractions: at least p < 0.05), These results indicate that in vivo pl atelet activation is detectable in neoplastic patients and it is assoc iated with alterations in platelet lipid composition, In the light of the important role played by membrane lipids in platelet functions rel ated to thrombosis and haemostasis we conclude that platelet lipid cha nges could cooperate in platelet activation and increased thrombotic r isk so frequently observed in neoplastic disease,