Thromb Haemost 1986; 56(02): 133-136
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1661626
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

The Fibrinolytic System in Experimental Prostate Tumor[*]

Hamid Al-Mondhiry
The Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Behavioral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
,
Joseph Drago
The Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Behavioral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
,
Mary J Bartholomew
The Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Behavioral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 February 1986

Accepted 25 June 1986

Publication Date:
26 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

Hypofibrinogenemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation are common events in patients with metastatic prostate carcinoma. This study tests the hypothesis that prostate tumor growth and metastasis is associated with sustained activation of fibrinolysis secondary to increased release of plasminogen activator. We implanted an androgen-insensitive prostate tumor into an inbred strain of rats and serially measured plasminogen, plasminogen activator, plasmin and fibrinogen. Control groups included animals without tumor and a group implanted with transitional cell bladder carcinoma, a locally infiltrating tumor not usually associated with hemostatic complications. Our results showed a significant and steady rise in plasma plasminogen activator, plasmin and fibrinogen levels in animals implanted with prostate cancer. This, however, is not specific for prostate tumor. Similar, perhaps more profound changes were noted in animals implanted with the transitional cell carcinoma.

* Supported in part by the American Cancer Society Grant # 417-67 HY.