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Urokinase‐plasminogen activator, a marker for aggressive breast carcinomas. Preliminary report
Author(s) -
Duffy Michael J.,
O'siorain Liam,
O'grady Pauline,
Devaney Deirdre,
Fennelly James J.,
Lijnen Henri J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19880801)62:3<531::aid-cncr2820620315>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - plasminogen activator , urokinase , medicine , breast cancer , serine protease , mammary gland , activator (genetics) , cancer research , oncology , cancer , protease , biology , enzyme , receptor , biochemistry
Plasminogen activator is a serine protease which exists in two forms, known as tissue‐type plasminogen activator and urokinase‐type plasminogen activator. Here, we show that urokinase‐type plasminogen activator activity in primary breast carcinomas correlates with both size of tumor and number of axillary nodes with metastases. Patients with primary carcinomas containing high levels of urokinase‐type plasminogen activator activity had a significantly shorter disease‐free interval than patients with low levels of activity. It is concluded that urokinase‐plasminogen activator may be a new prognostic marker in breast cancer.