title: Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor in breast cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the levels of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) activity and also its relationship with other homeostasis markers in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two female patients with breast cancer and 24 healthy women (controls) were enrolled in the study and fasting blood samples of all cases were drawn from a large antecubital vein for assay of TAFI and other homeostasis tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TAFI levels were 79.5 ± 15.5 and 39.3 ± 12.1 in patients and controls, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). In the patient group, the serum fibrinogen level was 504.9 ± 224.8, while in the control group it was 393.9 ± 100.5, and the difference was also statistically significant (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data showed that increased levels of TAFI are a contributing factor of thrombotic disorders in breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Fatih University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kaftan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kasapoglu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koroglu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kosar
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yalcin
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D005340:Fibrinogen; D025901:Carboxypeptidase B2