The urokinase-type plasminogen activator system in resected non-small-cell lung cancer. Rotterdam Oncology Thoracic Study Group.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), its receptor (uPAR) and plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2), all play important roles in tumour invasion and metastasis. The tumour levels of the components of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator system (uPA-system) may help to identify individuals with a poor prognosis in postoperative non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The levels of uPA, uPAR PAI-1 and PAI-2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in triton-extracts, prepared from 88 NSCLC tissues (stage I-IIIa) and 74 normal lung tissues from the same patients.

RESULTS:

The expression levels of uPA, uPAR, PAI-1 and PAI-2 were significantly higher in tumour tissues as compared to their normal equivalents (all, P < 0.0001). Significant relations were found between gender and uPA (P = 0.04) or uPAR (P < 0.001), and between PAI-2 and pathological stage (P = 0.03). For none of the studied factors of the uPA-system a significant relation with survival was found, neither in all patients, nor in the subgroups of patients with squamous-cell lung carcinoma or adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS:

The expression levels of the components of the uPA-system were higher in NSCLC tissue as compared to normal lung tissue, but there were no significant relationships between their levels and survival.

• Authors: M Salden, T A Splinter, H A Peters, M P Look, M Timmermans, J P van Meerbeeck, J A Foekens
• Journal: Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology (Ann Oncol) Vol. 11 Issue 3 Pg. 327-32 (Mar 2000) ISSN: 0923-7534 [Print] England
• PMID: 10811500 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• PLAUR protein, human
• Plasminogen Inactivators
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
• Plasminogen Activators

Topics

• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (chemistry)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• In Situ Hybridization
• Lung Neoplasms (chemistry)
• Male
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Neoplasm Staging
• Plasminogen Activators (analysis)
• Plasminogen Inactivators (analysis)
• Prognosis
• Receptors, Cell Surface (analysis)
• Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
• Retrospective Studies
• Sex Factors
• Survival Analysis