Crosslinked fibrin derivatives and fibronectin in ascitic fluid from patients with ovarian cancer compared to ascitic fluid in liver cirrhosis.

Ascitic fluid from patients with ovarian cancer and from patients with alcohol induced liver cirrhosis were compared in respect to hematological and related parameters (content of fibrinogen and fibrin (ogen) degradation products, fibrinopeptide A, F-CB3 related antigen, ratio of crosslinked fibrin to non crosslinked fibrin (ogen), fibronectin and total protein). In tumor ascites all parameters except FPA were significantly elevated compared with cirrhosis ascites. Tumor ascites contains a six-fold higher level of fibrin (ogen) degradation products. A considerable portion of it constitute crosslinked (factor XIII induced) high molecular weight fibrin derivatives. Their content is approx. 10 times higher in tumor ascites than in cirrhosis ascites. Characterization of the crosslinked fibrin derivatives revealed the presence of fragments DD, DY, and some other fragments compatible with XY, DXD, DXY, YXY and DXX. The fibronectin content is also significantly higher in tumor ascites compared with cirrhosis ascites. The value ranges showed no overlap. The findings suggest a turnover of fibrinogen in both ascitic fluids via coagulation and fibrinolysis. In tumor ascites however, fibrinogen seems to be catabolized to a higher degree via the degradation of crosslinked fibrin.