Tissue factor expression in human leukemic cells

Abstract

Patients with acute leukemia are at increased risk for thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications, particularly those patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) undergoing induction chemotherapy. These serious complications have been attributed by some authors to the release of tissue factor (TF) procoagulant activity (PCA), particularly during cytotoxic chemotherapy. In previous studies of normal peripheral blood cells, only cells of the monocyte lineage have been found to express TF PCA. Therefore, several questions remain regarding the origin and characterization of the PCA in malignant leukemic cells, particularly those thought to be derived from granulocyte progenitor cells. We util..