FIBRINOLYTIC-ACTIVITY OF CARCINOMA OF COLORECTUM

Abstract

Twenty patients with carcinoma, mostly of the colorectum, and 5 without malignant tumors who were used as controls, were investigated to elucidate the relationship between tumor fibrinolytic activity and the release of circulating malignant cells. The nature of the tumor fibrinolytic activity was considered. The most significant fibrinolytic activity was seen in blood draining from the tumors and was evident in 80%. Circulating malignant cells were recovered from half the patients, and in those with significant blood fibrinolysis, recovery from the draining vein reached 89%. The most undifferentiated tumors appeared to be more active and released more cells. Fibrinolytic activity of tumor tissue derives from inflammatory cells, dead tumor cells, avascular areas of the tumor and vascular endothelium and is probably proteolytic and purely fibrinolytic.