Inhibition of tissue factor-factor VIIa proteolytic activity blunts hepatic metastasis in colorectal cancer.

Background: Expression of the principal initiator of coagulation, tissue factor (TF), by colorectal cancer (CRC) cells is involved in tumoral angiogenesis and metastasis progression, after binding of factor VIIa (FVIIa) to TF and generation of TF-FVIIa activity. We thus hypothesized that inhibition of the TF pathway by active site-blocked FVIIa (FFR-FVIIa) may prevent the development of hepatic metastasis in CRC.

Methods: Rat tumoral cells (DHDK12 proB cells) expressing high levels of TF were injected in the portal vein in syngenic BDIX rats.