Recent advancements in
cancer research have led to major breakthroughs; however, the impact on overall
cancer-related death rate remains unacceptable. Thus, further insights into
tumor markers and subsequent development of targeted
therapies are urgently needed. For decades the
urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system has been thought to drive
tumor progression by mediating directed extracellular proteolysis on the surface of migrating or invading cells. Intervention with this proteolysis by targeting of uPA
receptor (uPAR) has been proposed to represent a novel approach for inhibiting
tumor progression. Recent data have provided new insights into the role of uPAR in
gastric cancer progression. In addition to mediating proteolysis, this receptor also appears to mediate cell signaling, proliferation, and survival, and these observations have revealed novel ways to target uPAR. In this review, we discuss uPAR expression in
gastric cancer, the relationship between uPAR and Helicobacter pylori, and recent insights into uPAR-signaling mechanisms. The role of uPAR as a
cancer target in
gastric cancer is also summarized.