Mz. Wojtukiewicz et al., Profiles of plasma serpins in patients with advanced malignant melanoma, gastric cancer and breast cancer, HAEMOSTASIS, 28(1), 1998, pp. 7-13
Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis are activated systemically in patients w
ith malignancy. The precarious balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis
is modulated by serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins). Levels of selected
serpins (alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin, alpha(1)-antitrypsin, alpha(2)-macrogl
obulin, antithrombin III, C1 inhibitor, alpha(2)-antiplasmin), substrates (
factor XIIIa, fibrinogen, fibronectin) and endproducts (fibrin/fibrinogen d
egradation products) of coagulation reactions were measured in the plasma o
f 61 patients with common malignancies associated with a tendency to thromb
osis (i.e. malignant melanoma, gastric cancer and breast cancer). The data
revealed a heterogeneity in plasma levels of serpins between tumor types. T
he most profound differences between cancer and healthy subject groups were
found in breast cancer patients. Levels of alpha(1)-antitrypsin were signi
ficantly higher and levels of alpha(2)-antiplasmin were significantly lower
in all cancer groups, whereas there were no differences in antithrombin II
I levels.