This review is intended to demonstrate that the local production of acute phase proteins
(termed local acute phase response (lAPR)) and especially fibrin/fibrinogen (FN) is
a defense mechanism of cancer cells to therapy, and inhibition of the lAPR can augment
the effectiveness of cancer therapy. Previously we detected a lAPR accompanying tumor
cell death during the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with modulated
electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) in mice. We observed a similar lAPR in in hypoxic mouse
kidneys. In both models, production of FN chains was predominant among the locally
produced acute phase proteins. The production and extracellular release of FN into
the tumor microenvironment is a known method of self-defense in tumor cells. We propose
that the lAPR is a new, novel cellular defense mechanism like the heat shock response
(HSR). In this review, we demonstrate a potential synergism between FN inhibition
and mEHT in cancer treatment, suggesting that the effectiveness of mEHT and chemotherapy
can be enhanced by inhibiting the HSR and/or the lAPR. Non-anticoagulant inhibition
of FN offers potential new therapeutic options for cancer treatment.
