Age-related characteristics of the content and activity of certain components of the blood fibrinolytic system in cases of uterine cancer

Uterine cancer (UC) is the third most common cancer in women in Russia. Knowledge of age-specific features of the fibrinolytic system in patients with UC can be useful in terms of improving its pathogenetic therapy. Aim of the study was to investigate the peculiarities of the content and activity of some components of the fibrinolytic system in the blood of UC patients of different age groups. Material and methods . 30 healthy women (donors) and 56 patients with uterine cancer T1a-2N0M0, adenocarcinoma G1–G3 were divided into subgroups according to age: reproductive, perimenopause and menopause. ELISA of urokinase (u-PA), its receptor (u-PAR) and its inhibitor (PAI-1), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) content were performed in blood collected before treatment. Results . In reproductive UC patients, inhibitor u-PA (PAI-1) activity increased 14-fold (hereinafter the difference is statistically significant, p < 0.05) and content increased 2.9-fold, while receptor u-PA (u-PAR) level decreased 1.7-fold compared to reproductive donors. Perimenopausal UC patients showed a 3.3-fold increase in PAI-1 content and a 6.3-fold increase in PAI-1 activity compared to perimenopausal donors, t-PA concentration decreased 1.3-fold relative to donors and was 1.9-fold lower than in reproductive UC patients. In menopausal patients with UC, the activity and content of PAI-1 enhanced 5.5-fold and 4.5-fold, respectively, compared to donors. Additionally, they were 2.1-fold and 1.2-fold lower than in reproductive UC patients. The activity of u-PA increased 2.6-fold, reaching the values of reproductive UC patients. The activity of t-PA was 1.3-fold higher than in donors, but did not differ from the activity in other RTM patients, while the level of t-PA occupied an intermediate position between the corresponding indices in young UC patients (it was 1.4-fold lower) and perimenopausal UC patients (it was 1.4-fold higher). Conclusions . The development of UC is accompanied by an imbalance of components of the fibrinolytic system in the blood, depending on the age of women, with a minimum spectrum of changes in the indicators in reproductive patients and maximum - in menopause patients, which indicates the pathognomonicity of these factors in PTM and requires an individual approach to the management of such patients.