Protein S in cancer patients with non-metastatic solid tumours.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To study protein S, as an acute phase protein, for its relationships with C4b-BP (C4BP), fibrinogen and Factor VIIIC in a group of patients with solid tumours, without proven metastases. METHODS: Eighty-one consecutive patients with gastrointestinal or pelvic adenocarcinoma (TNM staging T1-3, N0-2, M0) and 58 healthy subjects were evaluated for plasma free and total protein S antigen, protein S activity, C4BP, fibrinogen and Factor VIIIC. RESULTS: When compared to the control group, the total protein S, the C4BP, the fibrinogen and the Factor VIIIC mean levels were significantly higher in the cancer group, but there was no significant difference for the free and the functional protein S mean concentrations. In both groups the free protein S was correlated with the functional and the total protein S; moreover the latter was significantly correlated with the C4BP, whereas it was significantly correlated with the fibrinogen and the Factor VIIIC only in the cancer group. In addition, a high correlation was found among the C4BP, the fibrinogen and the Factor VIIIC. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that in these patients there is an acute phase response and suggest that, in the thrombophilic early cancer screening, determination of free protein S is redundant.