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.
Key words
Fibrinolysis - Prostate tumor
