The significance of the fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product in serum of carcinoma patients with hematogenous metastasis.

Fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) was measured in 270 cases with various carcinomas. An elevation of FDP (5 micrograms/ml or more) was observed in 68 cases (25%). Of the 68 elevated FDP cases, 5 (82%) were inoperable or received nonradical resection. Forty of those 56 cases (71%) showed hematogenous metastasis. FDP in those cases which showed hematogenous metastasis was found to be due to fibrinolysis accompanied by consumption coagulopathy.