[The location of components of fibrinolytic system in laryngeal cancer].

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.