title: [Clinical significance of protein Z detection in patients with malignant tumors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The blood of the patients with malignant tumors is in hypercoagulable state; its correlation to tumor migration evokes more and more attentions. Protein Z (PZ), a newly found anti-coagulation factor, is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein which is synthesized by the liver. Its structure is very similar to the vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors, such as FXII, FIX, FX, and protein C, but its physiologic function and clinical significance are unclear. The alteration of PZ level correlates with the increased risk of coagulating abnormality-caused diseases, but its alteration in solid tumors is seldom reported. This study was to explore clinical significance of PZ and the correlation of PZ level to FXII:C; FIX:C and FX:C levels in malignant tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma levels of PZ, FXII:C, FIX:C, FX:C, and FX:Ag of 80 patients with malignant tumors (MT group) and 80 healthy donors (control group) were detected; their correlations were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of PZ was significantly lower in MT group than in control group [(1 210.89+/-251.13) ng/ml vs. (2,378.83+/-429.51) ng/ml, P<0.01], but the levels of FXII:C, FX:C, and FX:Ag were significantly higher in MT group than in control group [(162.42+/-36.57)% vs. (114.78+/-28.96)%, (120.27+/-33.96)% vs. (79.23+/-19.46)%, and (133.66+/-35.51)% vs. (93.0+/-17.73)%, P<0.01]. The levels of FIX:C were (119.86+/-56.38)% in MT group, and (109.21+/-36.46)% in control group (P>0.05). The level of PZ was negatively correlated with the levels of FXII:C; FX:C, and FX:Ag (P<0.01), but had no correlation with the level of FIX:C (P>0.05). The level of PZ was significantly lower in stage III-IV (locally advanced stage-advanced stage) patients than in stage II patients [(998.32+/-117.72) ng/ml vs. (1,326.69+/-245.70) ng/ml, P<0.01], but the levels of FXII:C, FX:C, and FX:Ag were significantly higher in stage III-IV patients than in stage II patients [(206.76+/-28.63)% vs. (136.09+/-26.80)%, (162.53+/-32.92)% vs. (101.89+/-23.44)%, (168.03+/-25.97)% vs. (105.41%+/-13.86)%, P<0.01].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PZ level is obviously decreased in the patients with malignant tumors, and negatively correlated with FXII:C, FX:C, and FX:Ag. PZ level descends along with the progression of malignant tumors, and maybe a poor prognostic factor of malignant tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Pharmacy University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China. zhengon@sina.com
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Xue-Yi
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Cai-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xin-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Rou-Ling
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005164:Factor IX / Q000378:metabolism; D005167:Factor VII / Q000378:metabolism; D005170:Factor X / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001798:Blood Proteins; D011486:Protein C; C026080:plasma protein Z; D005167:Factor VII; D005164:Factor IX; D005170:Factor X