Laryngeal cancer is the most common
neoplasm of the head and neck region.
Laryngeal cancer patients experience thromboembolic complications more often than the general population. Our previous studies revealed in loco activation of blood coagulation in
laryngeal cancer. The purpose of the present study was to examine the interactions among the
laryngeal cancer cells and fibrinolytic system components in loco. Twenty-two cases of
squamous carcinoma of the larynx were examined. AMeX method-preserved
cancer tissues were examined using immunohistochemical ABC method.
Fibrin and
D-D fibrin dimers were demonstrated in the matrix, predominantly on the
tumor-host front.
Plasminogen,
tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and
plasmin were detected in
cancer cells, but the intensity of their expression revealed a negative correlation with the degree of
malignancy. A weak expression of high molecular weight
urokinase (HMW-UK) was observed in
cancer cells in the centers of the
cancer foci, and a product of its degradation--low molecular weight
urokinase (LMW-UK) was observed in
cancer cells on the invasion front. The presence of
plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1, PAI-2, PAI-3) was also documented in the
cancer cells. The expression of
urokinase receptor (u-PAR) was very weak. Based on the results of the study, we suggest that in
laryngeal cancer a suboptimal activation of fibrinolysis occurs that contributes to
fibrin deposition in the tumour.