Increased plasma thrombomodulin in cancer patients.

Plasma samples from 35 patients with colorectal cancer, 16 patients with pancreatic cancer and 46 patients with various cancers in the terminal stage were analysed for soluble plasma thrombomodulin with an ELISA method. At time of diagnosis and before primary treatment, the patients with colorectal cancer had normal plasma TM levels. In the patients who developed disseminated disease, the mean plasma TM level increased significantly. In the patients with pancreatic cancer, the mean plasma TM level was increased already at time of primary treatment. The TM level increased further with progress of the pancreatic cancer. In the patients with various cancer types in the terminal stage, the mean TM was also significantly increased compared to healthy controls. Great individual variation in the plasma TM level was observed, as well as great variation of mean TM level between the various cancer types. There was no significant correlation between the TM levels and the levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitor, another endothelial coagulation inhibitor, which increased with progress of malignant disease. This may indicate different underlying mechanisms for the increased plasma levels.