[Prostacyclin formation in human cancer tissue of the gastrointestinal tract (author's transl)].

Prostacyclin synthesis was studied by means of bioassay in histologically classified biopsy material derived from the human gastrointestinal tract. Tumour tissue generated significantly more prostacyclin than normal tissue. Whether this enhanced PGI2 formation is due to an increased number of endothelial cells in tumour tissue, or represents a characteristic property of the tumour cell itself is not yet clear. This property could be used in future for the detection and control follow-up of malignant disease by means of radioimmunological determination of stabile metabolites as a tumour marker.