Factor VIII as a potential player in cancer pathophysiology.

While expressed in the normal bladder epithelium, FVIII mRNA and protein were higher in matched bladder neoplasms, with synthesis and secretion of bioactive FVIII evident in bladder cancer cells. This can be extended to other cancer cell lines, with a pattern reflecting the tumor origin, and which is independent of vWF and other relevant players in the coagulation cascade. Herein, evidence is provided of a possible independent role for FVIII in cancer-related pathophysiology.