A functional role for hemostasis in early cancer development.

Blood coagulation disorders have been known to be associated with cancer for many years. However, the mechanisms responsible for their relationship have not been understood. Recent work indicates that activation of the MET oncogene, which drives invasion and metastasis in cancer, can promote a cancer-associated thrombohemorrhagic syndrome that is mediated by transcriptional up-regulation of the procoagulation factors plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 and cyclooxygenase-2. These findings reveal a long-sought mechanistic link between coagulation and cancer, highlighting a clinically important perspective on malignant invasion and metastasis.