The urokinase-type plasminogen activator system in resected non-small-cell lung cancer

Salden, M.; Splinter, T.A.W.; Peters, H.A.; Look, M.P.; Timmermans, M.; van Meerbeeck, J.P.; Foekens, J..A

doi:10.1023/A:1008312801800

Title

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator system in resected non-small-cell lung cancer

Author

Salden, M.

Splinter, T.A.W.

Peters, H.A.

Look, M.P.

Timmermans, M.

van Meerbeeck, J.P.

Foekens, J..A

Institution/Organisation

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.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Annals of oncology / European Society for Medical Oncology. - Amsterdam

Publication

Amsterdam : 2000

ISSN

0923-7534

DOI

10.1023/A:1008312801800

Volume/pages

11 :3 (2000) , p. 327-332