Levels of Alternatively Spliced Tissue Factor in the Plasma of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer May Help Predict Aggressive Tumor Phenotype

Background Circulating (‘blood-borne’) tissue factor (TF) is implicated in the pathogenesis of several chronic conditions, most notably cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Full-length TF is an integral membrane protein, while alternatively spliced TF (asTF) can be secreted and, owing to its unique C-terminus, selectively detected in bio-specimens. The predictive and/or prognostic value of asTF in the circulation is unknown. In a retrospective study, we measured levels of circulating asTF in healthy subjects and individuals with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), diabetes mellitus (DM), ongoing ACS + DM, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).