PB1414 - Mitochondrial DNA copy number and the association with venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

13:45 – 14:45 ICT

Room: Exhibition Hall

Presenting Author(s)

Rafaela Vostatek, MSc

PhD-Student
Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria

Co-Author(s)

MT

Marina Trappl

Master Student
Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
Oliver Königsbrügge, MD PhD

Physician
Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
Cornelia Englisch, MD

PhD Student
Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
PH

Philipp Hohensinner

Principal Investigator
Medical University Vienna, Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery
Vienna, Wien, Austria
Ingrid Pabinger

Professor
Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria
Cihan Ay, MD

Professor
Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Wien, Austria

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in cancer patients. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number is known to have an effect on various cellular pathways that are involved in cancer formation, e.g. in breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer, as decreased mtDNA is linked to carcinogenesis. Moreover, mtDNA is proposed as a biomarker for biological aging, and an association of reduced mtDNA with risk of VTE in non-cancer patients was previously reported.

Aims: We aimed to elucidate the association of mtDNA copy number with the risk of VTE in patients with cancer.

Methods: We conducted a nested-case control study within the framework of the Vienna Cancer and Thrombosis Study (CATS), a prospective cohort study of patients with cancer. Patients with cancer with and without VTE were matched according to age, sex, cancer type, and stage. Human mtDNA copy number was assessed via qPCR-based method in isolated DNA from blood taken at study inclusion. A binary regression model with adjustment for chronological age, D-dimer and BMI was applied to investigate the association of mtDNA with risk of VTE.

Results: We included 48 patients from CATS (54% female, median age: 63 [IQR 58.0-70.8] years] in this study, of whom 24 (50%) were diagnosed with VTE (table 1) during the observation period. Patients with VTE showed reduced mtDNA copy numbers compared to patients without VTE (median [IQR]: 216.73 [168.00–401.39] vs. 301.47 [210.66–526.84] kb). After multivariable adjustment for chronological age, D-dimer, and BMI the odds of VTE occurrence decreased by 5% per 10 unit increase in mtDNA (95% confidence interval: 0.910-0.997, p=0.036).

Conclusion(s): We observed a reduced mtDNA copy number in cancer patients who developed VTE, compared to those patients without VTE diagnosis. An increased mtDNA copy number seems to be protective against the risk of VTE in patients with cancer.