Urinary-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

Abstract

OSCC (oral squamous cell carcinoma) is the most common oral malignancy and is estimated to affect approx. 350000 new patients worldwide this year. OSCC is characterized by a high degree of morbidity and mortality, as most patients exhibit local, regional and distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. Recent genome-wide screening efforts have identified the serine proteinase uPA (urinary-type plasminogen activator, also known as urokinase) as a strong biomarker for prediction of poor disease outcome and a key candidate for molecular classification of oral neoplasms using a 'gene signature' approach. The proteinase uPA binds a surface-anchored receptor designated uPAR (uPA receptor), focalizing proteolytic activity to the pericellular milieu. Furthermore, uPA-uPAR can interact with transmembrane proteins to modify multiple signal transduction pathways and influence a wide variety of cellular behaviours. Correlative clinical data show elevated uPA-uPAR in oral tumour tissues, with tumours exhibiting high levels of both uPA and uPAR as the most invasive. Combined in vitro, pre-clinical and clinical data support the need for further analysis of uPA-uPAR as a prognostic indicator as well as a potential therapeutic target in OSCC.

• Authors: Zonggao Shi, M Sharon Stack
• Journal: The Biochemical journal (Biochem J) Vol. 407 Issue 2 Pg. 153-9 (Oct 15 2007) ISSN: 1470-8728 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 17880283 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)

Chemical References

• PLAUR protein, human
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
• Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Topics

• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (etiology, pathology)
• Humans
• Mouth Neoplasms (etiology, pathology)
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
• Signal Transduction
• Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator (physiology)