Tumours are capable of activating blood coagulation through the expression of procoagulant molecules such as tissue factor, cancer procoagulant and hepsin. Initiation of the clotting cascade results in the generation of the activated serine proteases factor VIIa, factor Xa and thrombin. These proteases act via protease-activated receptors and tissue factor to alter gene expression, thereby modulating tumour cell growth, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis.
Keywords:
CP, cancer procoagulant,
CTGF, connective tissue growth factor,
Egr-1, early growth response factor,
EPR-1, effector protease receptor-1,
ERK, extracellular signal-related kinase,
FVIIa, activated coagulation factor VIIa,
FXa, activated coagulation factor Xa,
GPI, glycosylphosphatidylinositol,
MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase,
PAR, protease-activated receptor
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© 2002 Biochemical Society
2002
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