TUMOR INTERACTION WITH THE FIBRINOLYTIC SYSTEM

Tumor activation and inhibition of fibrinolysis appear to be related to the pathophysiology of metastatic tumor spread. Our data demonstrate a correlation between the incidence of tumor metastases and both increasing tumor fibrinolytic activator activity and decreasing tumor fibrinolytic inhibitory activity. Nonmalignant lesions and normal tissue, other than liver, had activation/inhibition ratios of zero. Most malignant neoplasms without metastatic spread had activation/inhibition ratios less than 7, while most tumors with metastatic spread had activation/inhibition ratios greater than 7. Calculation of mean activation/inhibition ratios for tumors with and without metastatic spread demonstrated a statistically significant difference between their activation/inhibition ratios (P = 0.001). Therefore, tumor activation/inhibition ratios would appear to have statistical reliability as biologic markers for the presence or absence of metastatic tumor spread. These data have significant clinical and therapeutic implications with respect to the utilization of tumor activation/inhibition ratios as biologic markers of tumor spread, and they also warrant further investigation into the mechanisms of tumor interaction with the fibrinolytic system. © 1979.