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Expression and cellular localization of the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator and its receptor in human hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Dubuisson L.,
Monvoisin A.,
Nielsen B. S.,
Le Bail B.,
BioulacSage P.,
Rosenbaum J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(200002)190:2<190::aid-path511>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - urokinase receptor , stromal cell , hccs , plasminogen activator , cancer research , in situ hybridization , immunohistochemistry , biology , hepatocellular carcinoma , pathology , cytokeratin , cancer cell , receptor , urokinase , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , messenger rna , medicine , immunology , endocrinology , gene , biochemistry , genetics
The urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) play an important role in tumour invasion. Previous studies have shown by RT‐PCR that uPA and uPAR mRNAs are expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and double immunofluorescence were used to identify the cells expressing uPA and uPAR in 26 HCCs. The results indicate that uPA and uPAR were expressed in every case, almost exclusively in stromal cells, mostly myofibroblasts and macrophages, except for rare tumoural hepatocytes expressing cytokeratin 7. These results show the important role of stromal cells of HCC in the pericellular proteolysis which facilitates cancer cell invasion. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.