[Observations on tumor-associated fibrinolysis in human breast-cancer (author's transl)]

In 30 cases of breast-cancer, including 24 primary cases, the tumor-associted fibrinolysis was investigated using agar plate method. In 60% of the tissue sample fibrinolytic activity was found. No activity could be detected in the remaining 40%. There was evidence of a positive correlation between tumor-associated fibrinolysis and tumor size as well as the rate of axilla metastases. Among the fibrinolytic active cases there was a disproporionate number of adenocarcinoma, whereas in the inactive collective the solid and scirrhous carcinoma prevailed. There was no relation between the tumor-associated fibrinolysis and the percentage of tumor cells in the tissue. The firbinolytic inactive tumors showed a better histopathological adaptation to the surrounding tissue than the active ones. There was less small-cell infiltrate in the stroma of the fibrinolytic active tumors than in the inactive cases. No significant difference was found in the form of growth and the occurence of fibre structure. For clinical assessment a longer period of observation and a larger study are necessary.