[Determination of tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) in subjects with gastrointestinal diseases. Preliminary data].

Tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) is a 6 K dalton protease inhibitor, that was isolated from urine of a patient with ovarian cancer. In our experience, mean serum level of TATI in healthy subjects (n. 120), is 13 micrograms/l (range 5.1-42 micrograms/l). The cut-off point is established in 32 micrograms/l (mean +/- 3 SD). We have examined 357 patients with gastrointestinal diseases: 98 gastric cancer, 50 colon cancers, 52 pancreatic cancers, 32 chronic pancreatitis, 38 IBD, 28 colon polyps, 40 gastric ulcers and 25 non-neoplastic biliary tree diseases. TATI may be a good tumor marker only in gastric cancer. Elevated levels of TATI also occur in obstructive hepatobiliary disease and active pancreatitis or IBD.