C-reactive Protein, Genetic Susceptibility, and the Long-Term Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Past Cancer

Yunlong Guan; Zeyu Gan; Si Li; Xi Cao; Ao Zeng; Jing Li; Wei Gong; Jun Deng; Xingjie Hao

doi:10.1055/a-2495-1350

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2025; 125(10): 1038-1047
DOI: 10.1055/a-2495-1350

Stroke, Systemic or Venous Thromboembolism

C-reactive Protein, Genetic Susceptibility, and the Long-Term Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Past Cancer

Authors

Yunlong Guan

¹Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Zeyu Gan

¹Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Si Li

¹Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Xi Cao

¹Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Ao Zeng

¹Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Jing Li

²Department of Oncology, Xiang yang Central Hospital, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiang yang, Hubei, China
Wei Gong

²Department of Oncology, Xiang yang Central Hospital, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiang yang, Hubei, China
Jun Deng

³Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Xingjie Hao

¹Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China

Abstract

Background

Several studies have indicated that C-reactive protein (CRP) level is associated with the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the general population. However, CRP appears to be unrelated to VTE events in patients newly diagnosed with cancer. As the survival time of cancer patients increases, the effect of CRP on the long-term risk of VTE may change. We aimed to investigate the association between CRP and VTE in cancer survivors and further assess the modification effect of genetic susceptibility.

Methods

The Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the association between CRP levels and VTE risk as well as to investigate the joint effect of CRP and genetic susceptibility. The Kaplan-Meier curve and restricted cubic spline were used to visualize the relationship between CRP and VTE.

Results

This study included 27,806 participants with cancer diagnosis at baseline in the UK Biobank. Over a follow-up period of 344,636 person-years, a total of 1,151 VTE events were recorded. Participants were divided into four groups based on CRP level quartiles. The adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) of Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 were 1.00, 1.20 (0.99–1.44), 1.25 (1.04–1.50), and 1.51 (1.25–1.82), respectively. For those with high genetic risk of VTE, high CRP had an additional increased risk for VTE.

Conclusion

CRP can be used as a predictive biomarker for VTE risk in cancer survivors, especially in those with high genetic risk. Future research can explore whether prevention and treatment strategies for VTE can be developed based on CRP for cancer survivors.

Keywords

venous thromboembolism - C-reactive protein - cancer - polygenic risk score - cohort study

Full Text

References

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