The inhibitory effect of tranexamic acid on human ovarian carcinoma cell grown in vitro and in vivo

Effects of tranexamic acid on tumor growth were examined by using five kinds of human cultured cell lines derived from ovarian malignant tissues. An optimum inhibitory effect on cell proliferation was observed at a concentration of 10 mg/ml tranexamic acid, while replication of a clear cell carcinoma cell line (OK) was not inhibited by any concentration of tranexamic acid used in the present study. Exposure of a cystadenocarcinoma cell line (HR) to 10 mg/ml tranexamic acid for 2 hr resulted in significant growth retardation of tumors formed in nude mice. Further, tranexamic acid seemed to change the morphology of the ovarian carcinoma cells to enlarged cells with abundant cytoplasm. These results suggest that fibrinolytic factors are associated with growth of the tumor and tranexamic acid is useful as an adjuvant therapy for ovarian carcinoma.