Cancer procoagulant and blood platelet activation.

The effects of cancer procoagulant (CP), cysteine protease (EC 3.4.22.26), on the pig blood platelet secretory process and platelet aggregation have been studied. The response of platelets to CP was compared with the response of these cells to thrombin. The obtained results show that blood platelets treated with CP (0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 microg/ml, 2-30 min, 37 degrees C) released adenine nucleotides (P < 0.05) and proteins (P < 0.05). The secretion of compounds from blood platelets after incubation with CP does not correlate with the release of platelet lactic dehydrogenase activity (marker of cell lysis) into the extracellular medium. In comparison with thrombin action, CP stimulates secretory process to a smaller extent than thrombin alone. In the presence of CP, the thrombin action is suppressed (P < 0.05). We noticed that CP does not induce platelet aggregation.