Abstract

Cancer procoagulant is considered one of the most important factors responsible for blood coagulation disturbances, which often accompany malignancy. The presence of cancer procoagulant (EC 3.4.22.26) was examined in neoplastic tissues, which were collected from 25 patients (10 men, 15 women) who underwent surgical procedures due to malignant tumours located in different organs. Selected basic blood coagulation parameters (clotting time, prothrombin time, platelet count) were studied in blood samples of these patients. The presence of cancer procoagulant antigen was analysed by Western blotting with the use of polyclonal antibodies and blood coagulation parameters were verified by routine methods. CP antigen was detected in 23 (92%) out of 25 examined malignant tissues, including early stages. In 24 patients, no abnormalities of analysed clotting parameters were found. In one case, prolongation of clotting time and abnormal prothrombin time were detected. The presence of cancer procoagulant antigen in malignant tissue of patients with normal values of blood coagulation tests may suggest that the role of CP as a factor responsible for cancer-associated hypercoagulability can be additional. CP could still be responsible for generation of fibrin in situ, promoting tumour development. The results of this study confirm observation of other authors, that CP is a highly specific protein in different kinds of neoplasms and therefore, it could be a marker useful in the detection of cancer even in the early stages.

Keywords: coagulopathy, malignant neoplasms, cancer procoagulant