Value of Fibrinogen as a Marker in Gastrointestinal Cancers

Abstract

Increase of some coagulation factors and tendency to venous thrombosis have been reported in gastrointestinal cancers. In this study, plasma fibrinogen levels have been investigated in 24 patients with gastrointestinal cancer (esophageal, gastric and pancreatic cancer). Significant increase has been found in the esophageal cancer group (p < 0.01). Plasma fibrinogen levels were also elevated in two pancreatic cancer patients (9.52 and 6.45 gr/lt) but they were normal in gastric cancer patients. These results suggest that fibrinogen may be a useful tumor marker in some gastrointestinal cancers and further investigations are required in a large number of patients.