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Urokinase plasminogen activator and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in breast cancer
Author(s) -
Duggan C.,
Maguire T.,
McDermott E.,
O'Higgins N.,
Fennelly J. J.,
Duffy M. J.
Publication year - 1995
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.2910610502
Subject(s) - urokinase , plasminogen activator , urokinase receptor , breast cancer , medicine , cancer research , receptor , mammary gland , endocrinology , cancer
Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine protease involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. uPA mediates its action while attached to a membrane‐bound receptor (uPAR). In this investigation we show that uPAR levels correlate with uPA levels in human breast cancers. uPAR levels, however, do not correlate with other components of the plasminogen activator system such as tissue‐type plasminogen activator (t‐PA), PAI‐1 or PAI‐2. In addition, uPAR levels showed no correlation with tumor size, axillary‐node status or estrogen‐receptor status. On the basis of an optimum cut‐off point, patients with breast cancers containing high levels of uPAR had a worse prognosis than patients with low levels of the receptor. However, as a prognostic marker in breast cancer, uPAR was not as strong as uPA. Our results are consistent with data from model systems suggesting that both uPA and uPAR are necessary for metastasis. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc .