Profiles of plasma serpins in patients with advanced malignant melanoma, gastric cancer and breast cancer

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.