Tumor-associated urokinase-type plasminogen activator: significance in breast cancer.
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), a proteolitic enzyme, capable of degrading type 4 collagen, is supposed to be involved in degradation of extracellular matrix during cancer invasion. Evidence has been presented that primary breast cancer patients with tumors containing high levels of u-PA experience a worse prognosis. u-PA and its inhibitor, type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), are potentially important prognostic factors in breast cancer to identify patients at high risk for recurrence and also in the classification of clinically important subgroups.
Torre
E A
EA
Biomedical Technology Section, Scientific Oncologic Institute of Genova, Oncologic Institute of Messina Italy.
Fulco
R A
RA
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*
D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator