Fibrinogen levels in breast cancer

We have attempted to find out if there is any quantitative variation in fib rinogen levels in breast cancer, and also if any such variation reflects tu mour progression. We measured fibrinogen levels in 125 patients with breast cancer and analysed them with respect to age, stage of cancer, mode of ant i-cancer treatment and onset of the menopause. We also measured fibrinogen levels in 100 healthy, age-matched, randomly selected controls to make obje ctive comparisons. Fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in breast ca ncer patients (531.41 +/- 16.58) than in the controls (432.91 +/- 20.79). T he levels were also raised significantly with age and in pre-menopausal bre ast cancer patients (510.48 +/- 27.57) as compared to normal levels (411.42 +/- 31.18). Although we found a suggestive trend, fibrinogen levels did no t show any significant variation with respect to therapy against cancer or with advances in the stage of the carcinoma. In conclusion, we believe the proliferating carcinoma causes severe vascular tissue injury, which becomes more pronounced due to the neo-vascularization of the tumour by angiogenes is, consequently affecting the levels of fibrinogen in blood. Med Sci Res 2 7:453-455 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.