Antithrombin III Profiles in Malignancy, Relationship to Primary Tumors and Metastatic Sites

Summary

Variations of antithrombin III were studied in a non-ran-domized population of consecutive cancer cases admitted to a referral hospital. Differences between functional and immunologic assay were observed.

Decreases were observed in both assays when compared to a population of hospitalized controls. Patients with cancer of the colon, ovary and prostate showed a deficiency of antithrombin III more frequently than other common tumors. When all tumor cases were subdivided into those in remission compared to those with metastases, a significant decrease in antithrombin III also could be shown.

Metastases to the liver were strikingly common in cancer patients with decreased antithrombin III. In these patients, the decrease in antithrombin III could be statistically correlated with reduction in serum albumin.

Keywords

Antithrombin III - Liver metastases - Coagulation abnormalities of cancer

• References

• 1 Losito R, Beaudry P, Valderrama JC. Antithrombin III and factor VIII in patients with neoplasma. Am J Clin Path 1977; 68: 258-262
• 2 Sun NJ, McAlfee WM. et al. Hemostatic abnormalities in malignancy, a prospective study of one hundred and eight patients. Am J Clin Path 1979; 71: 10-16
• 3 Bick RL. Alteration of hemostasis associated with malignancy. Sem Thromb Hemostas 1978; 5: 1-26
• 4 Collins GJ, Heymann RL, Zajitchuak R. Hypercoagulability in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Am J Surg 1975; 130: 2-6
• 5 Bick RL, Dukes ML. et al. Antithrombin III as a diagnostic aid in disseminated intravascular coagulation. Thromb Res 1977; 10: 721-729
• 6 von Kaulla E, von Kaulla KM. Antithrombin III and disease. Am J Clin Path 1968; 48: 69-80
• 7 Hedner U, Nilsson IM. Antithrombin III in a clinical material. Thromb Res 1973; 3: 631-641
• 8 Bick RL. Antithrombin III and factor VIII in patients with neoplasms. Am J Clin Path 1978; 69: 194-195
• 9 Innerfield I, Augrist A, Benjamin JW. Plasma antithrombin patterns in disturbances of the pancreas. Gastroenterology 1951; 19: 843-853
• 10 Twining SS, Brecher AS. Identification of α-acid glycoprotein, α₂-macroglobulin and antithrombin III as components of normal and malignant human tissues. Clin Chim Acta 1977; 75: 143-148
• 11 Mancini G, Carbonara AG, Heremans JF. Immunochemical quantitation of antigens by single radial immunodiffusion. Immunochem 1965; 2: 235
• 12 Watanabe K, Tullis JL. Ristocetin precipitation test. Am J Clin Path 1978; 70: 691-696
• 13 Philip JA D, Walker ID, Davidson JF. The ratio of functional immunologic antithrombin III as an index of antithrombin consumption. Proc VII Int Cong Thromb Haemostas 1979; Abstract 0893 p 375
• 14 Slichter SJ, Harker LA. Hemostasis in malignancy. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1974; 330: 252-261
• 15 Hensen A, Loeliger EA. Antithrombin III. Its metabolism and its function in blood coagulation. Thromb Diath Haemorrh Suppl (Suppl. 02) 1963; 9: 1-84
• 16 Owen CA, Bowie EW. Chronic intravascular coagulation syndrome. Mayo Clin Proc 1974; 49: 675-679
• 17 Tullis JL, Honegger H, Fleischaker O, Hewitt L. et al. Antithrombin effects of malignant and normal cells. Cancer 1981; 48: 117-122
• 18 Teger-Nilson AC. Antithrombin in infancy and childhood. Acta Paediatr Scand 1975; 64: 624-628
• 19 Tullis JL, Watanabe K. Platelet antithrombin deficiency. Am J Med 1978; 65: 472-478