title: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator in colorectal carcinomas and adenomatous polyps: quantitative expression of active and proenzyme.
abstract: Total urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) content (proenzyme plus active enzyme) was significantly higher in 20 colorectal carcinomas and in 27 adenomatous polyps than in metaplastic polyps and autologous normal mucosa. u-PA content was also markedly increased in adenomatous polyps and autologous colonic mucosa removed from familial polyposis coli patients. Using a new monoclonal antibody technique to distinguish the proenzyme of u-PA from the active enzyme, we found that 70% of the u-PA in polyp and cancer tissue was present in the proenzyme form compared to 47% in normal colonic mucosa. For colon cancers, there was a significant correlation between their stage of invasiveness and the levels of proenzyme. No correlation was observed between the u-PA content of adenomatous polyps and their size or degree of dysplasia. Study of the u-PA content of the colonic mucosa may offer a useful biochemical correlate of epithelial cell transformation in the colon.
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000032:analysis*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000201:enzymology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007531:Isoflurophate / Q000494:pharmacology; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000032:analysis*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D007531:Isoflurophate; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator