Release of fibrinolytic activators from human ovarian tumours in organ culture.

Malignant human ovarian tumours possess coagulative and fibrinolytic properties, reflected in the occurrence of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) in the serum or ascitic fluid. The degradation of fibrin/fibrinogen into FDP is initiated by activators of fibrinolysis. Using a culture method permitting continuous measurement of fibrinolytic activators released, we investigated this release in organ culture of 27 various human ovarian tumours and 7 normal ovaries. The results showed that ovarian tumour explants released more fibrinolytic enzymes than explants from normal ovaries.