Ex vivo Vitamin D supplementation improves viscoelastic profiles in prostate cancer patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Increased risk of thromboembolic events is associated with prostate cancer, specifically linked to activation of tissue factor. Vitamin D has potential anticoagulant effects by the downregulation of tissue factor expression. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects on clot formation, the morphological and viscoelastic profiles of prostate cancer patients, before and after ex vivo supplementation of Vitamin D was studied. METHODS: Participants were recruited into a metastatic, non-metastatic and reference group. Whole blood samples were treated ex vivo with a dose of 0.5μg/kg Calcitriol. Clot kinetics were assessed using Thromboelastography®. Morphology of the blood components were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: Results from the Thromboelastography® and SEM indicated no major differences between the non-metastatic group before and after treatment compared to the reference group. The Thromboelastography® showed that the metastatic group had an increased viscoelastic profile relating to a hypercoagulable state. Visible changes with regards to platelet activation and fibrin morphology were demonstrated with SEM analysis of the metastatic group. The viscoelastic and morphological properties for the non-metastatic group after treatment improved to be comparable to the reference group. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D supplementation may lead to a more favorable viscoelastic profile, with less dangerous clots forming.