Automated thrombin generation offers insights into peritoneal cancer

A Welsh scientist is using her understanding of thrombin generation in haemostasis and its role in critical bleeding assessment to lead a major clinical research project into pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare abdominal cancer. Further, she has chosen the automated thrombin generation (TG) assay delivered by Stago’s ST Genesia to assess bleeding and help evaluate the effectiveness of different treatment options.

            Dr Sophia Stanford is lead research scientist at the internationally renowned Peritoneal Malignancy Institute Basingstoke, part of the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.¹ The institute specialises in the surgical treatment of patients with peritoneal cancer that has spread to the lining the abdominal wall and the tissues covering the organs. Basingstoke and Manchester’s Christie Hospital are the UK’s only two centres of excellence funded by the NHS to carry out ‘highly specialised services’ into this cancer.

            The team, of which Dr Stanford is part, has initiated a phase three clinical trial involving the ST Genesia to help investigate the use of fibrinogen concentrate versus the standard use of cryoprecipitate in managing intraoperative bleeding. Dr Stanford was also previously involved in a similar phase 2 study, focusing on managing intraoperative bleeding, and whether patients would benefit from receiving fibrinogen concentrate.² The new trial takes this one step further. Thrombin generation testing, in addition to other coagulation factors, is being used to measure the haemostasis status of patients undergoing invasive surgery while they are receiving different fibrinogen products.