Tissue-type plasminogen activator as marker of functional steroid receptors in human breast cancer.
The relationship between tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen content and receptor status was investigated in 200 human breast cancer cytosols to evaluate the efficacy of t-PA as a marker of functional steroid receptors. t-PA level was measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors were assayed by the DCC method. A highly significant correlation was found between t-PA levels and receptor status. The mean +/- SE enzyme content was 13.5 +/- 2.9 in ER+ tumors and 1.8 +/- 0.3 ng/mg protein in ER- tumors; the enzyme content in PgR+ tumors was 14.2 +/- 3.3 and 3.4 +/- 1.4 ng/mg protein in PgR- tumors. When tumors were divided into four subgroups according to receptor content (ER+PgR+, ER+PgR-, ER-PgR+, and ER-PgR-), t-PA concentration was able to differentiate these groups. Also, t-PA level was compared to several clinical variables; it was not correlated with menopausal status or lymph node involvement. However, t-PA content varied according to tumor size. Our data shows that t-PA content in tumor cytosols is statistically related to receptor status and that determination of t-PA levels in breast cancer might furnish additional information as to the functional state of the receptors which may be necessary for planning hormone therapy.
Hematology and Hemostatis Laboratory, Oncology Institute, Bari, Italy.
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Rella
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Coviello
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Quaranta
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Paradiso
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003600:Cytosol / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator