Protein S in cancer patients with non-metastatic solid tumours.
OBJECTIVE
To study protein S, as an acute phase protein, for its relationships with C4b-BP (C4BP), fibrinogen and Factor VIII:C in a group of patients with solid tumours, without proven metastases.


METHODS
Eighty-one consecutive patients with gastrointestinal or pelvic adenocarcinoma (TNM staging: T1-3, N0-2, M0) and 58 healthy subjects were evaluated for plasma free and total protein S antigen, protein S activity, C4BP, fibrinogen and Factor VIII:C.


RESULTS
When compared to the control group, the total protein S, the C4BP, the fibrinogen and the Factor VIII:C mean levels were significantly higher in the cancer group, but there was no significant difference for the free and the functional protein S mean concentrations. In both groups the free protein S was correlated with the functional and the total protein S; moreover the latter was significantly correlated with the C4BP, whereas it was significantly correlated with the fibrinogen and the Factor VIII:C only in the cancer group. In addition, a high correlation was found among the C4BP, the fibrinogen and the Factor VIII:C.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that in these patients there is an acute phase response and suggest that, in the thrombophilic early cancer screening, determination of free protein S is redundant.
Battistelli
S
S
Dipartimento di Chirurgia e Specialità Chirurgiche, Policlinico Le Scotte, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Vittoria
A
A
Cappelli
R
R
Stefanoni
M
M
Roviello
F
F
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050716:Complement C4b-Binding Protein; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D017293:Protein S / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C055609:C4BPA protein, human; D050716:Complement C4b-Binding Protein; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D017293:Protein S; D005169:Factor VIII; D005340:Fibrinogen