[Cancer procoagulant (CP)]. / Nowotworowy prokoagulant (CP).

Epidemiological studies point out steady increase of the incidence of cancer disease in Poland and all over the world. Neoplasms are associated with blood coagulation disorders very frequently. The investigations concentrate on searching for the substance producing malignant cells and causing activation of blood coagulation in neoplasm disease patients. Gordon and co-workers were the first who published results of their investigation in searching for such a substance in 1975. It was isolated from the rabbit's neoplasm type V2 Ca and then characterized and named as cancer procoagulant (CP). Cancer procoagulant is responsible for blood coagulation disorders in neoplasm disease patients, incorrect metabolism of fibrin and its concentration around malignant tissues. This enzyme (in vitro) is a direct activator of the factor X, without contribution of factor VII or any other cofactors. CF differs in physical, chemical and enzymatic activity from others procoagulants. The main aim of the paper is a review of the literature for structure, chemical characteristic, occurrence and clinical relevance of the cancer procoagulant (CP) and its clinical use in current oncological diagnostics.

[Cancer procoagulant and cathepsin D activity in blood serum in patients with bladder cancer]. / Aktywnosc nowotworowego prokoagulanta i katepsyny D w surowicy chorych na raka pecherza moczowego.

The increasing morbidity and mortality rates of bladder cancer forced the scientists to search for new unfailing diagnostic and therapeutic methods that will improve treatment effects. There are biochemical cancer markers as cancer procoagulant (CP) and cathepsin D which may be used to this end. The aim of the study was to evaluate the activity of the cancer procoagulant and cathepsin D in the blood serum in patients with superficial bladder cancer. The venous blood samples were from 15 patients with microscopically proved superficial bladder carcinoma (i.e. study group) and 15 normal volunteers as a control group. The serum blood CP activity was determined by the Gordon-Benson's coagulation method and expressed by the clotting time in seconds (s) while the cathepsin D activity was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteau's method and expressed by a quantity of released tyrosine in nmol/ml per 4 hours. The CP activity in serum of patients with superficial bladder cancer was increased in statistically way as compared to the non-cancer controls (p<0.0001). The cathepsin D activity in blood serum of the study group was also enhanced as compared to the control group and the said values differed statistically (p<0.0351). It appears to be justifiable to apply the determination of the CP and cathepsin D activity in blood serum for the diagnostics of superficial bladder cancer.