Cancer procoagulant is a hypothesised
protein, most likely a
cysteine protease enzyme that occurs only in
fetal and
malignant cells. Its activity appears to be the activation of
factor X, one of the
coagulation factors, and would account for the increased incidence of
thrombosis in cancer patients.
Tissue factor (TF) is also known to be present at increased levels around malignant cells.
References
- De Cicco M. The prothrombotic state in cancer: pathogenic mechanisms. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2004;50:187-96. PMID 15182825.
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