Fibrinopeptide a (FPA) radioassay in the evaluation of cancer
The conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin by thrombin results in the release of FPA; the plasma concentration of FPA is a marker of the rate of conversion of fibrinogen and is an indicator of the clotting process. All coagulation processes leading to the formation of a fibrin clot will result in generation of FPA, quantifiable by radioassay. Malignant metastases are believed to function as tissue factors for the initiation of coagulation, and cancer activity should be reflected by elevation of FPA concentrations. The authors have used a commercially available FPA radioimmunoassay test kit to evaluate FPA concentrations in cancer patients. A normal range for FPA in our laboratory was established on 20 men and women. The distribution is log normal and the 95% confidence limits are 0.6-9.8 ng/ml plasma, with a mean of 2.4. Analysis of variance revealed a between duplicates coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.8% and a between run CV of 6.5%, both acceptable values. No significant difference was noted between duplicates. FPA and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentrations were determined in 52 patients with active cancer and 11 with presumably inactive disease. For the active cancer group, FPA alone was elevated in 27%, CEA alone was elevated in 17%, and both were high in 27%. A higher positive rate for FPA was seen in breast and lung cancer, whereas in colon cancer, CEA was more sensitive. Two patients in the presumably inactive group had positive FPA. The results indicate that FPA is more sensitive in active cancer than CEA; the two tests supplement each other as markers of disease activity. The FPA radioassay appears to be a good marker for following therapy of patients with cancer.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
- OSTI ID:
- 6575466
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-840619-; TRN: 87-018883
- Journal Information:
- J. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Vol. 25:5; Conference: 31. annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 5 Jun 1984
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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NEOPLASMS
METABOLISM
PEPTIDES
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BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
BLOOD COAGULATION
DIAGNOSIS
DISEASE INCIDENCE
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RADIOIMMUNOASSAY
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CHEMICAL REACTIONS
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COAGULANTS
DECOMPOSITION
DISEASES
DRUGS
ENZYMES
GLOBULINS
HEMATOLOGIC AGENTS
HEMOSTATICS
HYDROLASES
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ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KINETICS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
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550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics