A characterization of the coagulant and fibrinolytic profile of human pancreatic carcinoma cells

The activation of coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways is well recognized in patients with malignant disease including those with carcinoma of the pa ncreas. The elaboration of activators and inhibitors of coagulation and of fibrinolysis has been assessed in 8 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell li nes in vitro. Tissue factor (TF) was commonly synthesized with wide variati ons in the amount produced between cell lines, whereas its inhibitor (tissu e factor pathway inhibitor, TFPI) showed lower but more consistent levels. Of the activators of fibrinolysis, urokinase was produced by all but one ce ll line, whereas tissue plasminogen activator expression was much less freq uently seen. A correlation between low TF or high TFPI and cell doubling ti me was demonstrated. These data suggest a complex interaction of tumour-der ived enzymes capable of interacting with most haemostatic mechanisms.