[Clinical significance of protein Z detection in patients with malignant tumors].
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.
Shang
Yi
Y
Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Pharmacy University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China. zhengon@sina.com
Pan
Xue-Yi
XY
Ding
Cai-Ping
CP
Yang
Xin-Mei
XM
Cai
Xiao-Yan
XY
Ding
Ying
Y
Zhang
Rou-Ling
RL
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001798:Blood Proteins; D011486:Protein C; C026080:plasma protein Z; D005167:Factor VII; D005164:Factor IX; D005170:Factor X