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Expression of uPA and its receptor by both neoplastic and stromal cells during xenograft invasion
Author(s) -
Rømer John,
Pyke Charles,
Lund Leif R.,
Eriksen Jens,
Kristensen Peter,
Rønne Ebbe,
HøyerHansen Gunilla,
Danø Keld,
Brünner Nils
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910570419
Subject(s) - urokinase receptor , stromal cell , plasminogen activator , urokinase , biology , cancer research , receptor , cancer cell , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , endocrinology , biochemistry , genetics
Abstract Recent studies have shown that molecules involved in generation and regulation of extracellular proteolytic activity are often expressed by non‐malignant stromal cells during human cancer invasion. We have studied the expression of the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator and the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator cell‐surface receptor in xenografts of human MDA‐MB‐231 mammary carcinoma cells growing invasively in nude mice. Northern analysis showed the presence of both human and mouse urokinase‐type plasminogen activator and urokinase‐type plasminogen activator receptor mRNA in tumor extracts. By in situ hybridization, mRNA for human urokinase‐type plasminogen activator and its receptor was detected in virtually all the cancer cells, while mouse urokinase‐type plasminogen activator and urokinase‐type plasminogen activator receptor mRNA was expressed by tumor‐infiltrating fibroblast‐like and macrophage‐like cells. In invasive areas the cells expressing the 2 murine mRNAs were either the same or located immediately adjacent to each other. This model system has several advantages for studies of the mechanism by which cancer cells induce or recruit stromal cells to produce molecules involved in proteolysis. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.