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The plasmin system in human colonic tumors: An immunofluorescence study
Author(s) -
Burtin P.,
Chavanel G.,
Andre J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910350305
Subject(s) - immunofluorescence , plasmin , pathology , indirect immunofluorescence , medicine , biology , cancer research , antibody , immunology , enzyme , biochemistry
We studied the plasmin system with specific antisera to plasminogen, its 2 activators (urokinase‐type and tissue‐type) and the 2 plasmin inhibitors, α2 anti‐plasmin and α2 macroglobulin on sections of 34 human colonic tumors by immunofluorescence. Anti‐plasmin ogen serum showed a clear‐cut reactivity at the surface of tumor cells, as it stained the contour of tumor glandular structures, foci, and isolated tumor cells. Intratumoral deposits and necrotic areas were stained as well, often strongly. Localization of plasminogen was quite different from that of fibrinogen, which was found only in peritumoral stroma, and never on tumor cells. Traces of both types of plasminogen activator were found, mainly on invasive tumor cells for urokinase type and on large tumor foci for tissue type. Images were weak and inconstant. Large amounts of both plasmin inhibitors were characterized in tumor stroma. Alpha‐2 anti‐plasmin was also found in intratumoral deposits and necrotic areas. It seems likely that plasminogen exudes from blood capillaries (since anti‐plasminogen serum often stained the whole capillary wall), diffuses in the stroma and binds to tumor cells. Once formed, plasmin is likely to play a role in the invasion of surrounding tissues by tumor cells, in the dissociation of tumor cells from tumor glands and in the production of necrosis inside tumor areas.