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

ABSTRACT

Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis are activated systemically in patients with malignancy. The precarious balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis is modulated by serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins). Levels of selected serpins (alpha1-antichymotrypsin, alpha1-antitrypsin, alpha2-macroglobulin, antithrombin III, C1 inhibitor, alpha2-antiplasmin), substrates (factor XIIIa, fibrinogen, fibronectin) and endproducts (fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products) of coagulation reactions were measured in the plasma of 61 patients with common malignancies associated with a tendency to thrombosis (i.e. malignant melanoma, gastric cancer and breast cancer). The data revealed a heterogeneity in plasma levels of serpins between tumor types. The most profound differences between cancer and healthy subject groups were found in breast cancer patients. Levels of alpha1-antitrypsin were significantly higher and levels of alpha2-antiplasmin were significantly lower in all cancer groups, whereas there were no differences in antithrombin III levels.