Urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor is a novel prognostic factor in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
There have been many reports that the u-PA system plays an important role in cancer invasion and metastasis. The binding of u-PA to its specific cell-surface receptor, u-PAR, is necessary for the activation of u-PA system. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role and the prognostic value of u-PAR in cancer invasion and metastasis.


METHODS
u-PAR expression in 104 breast cancers was investigated immunohistochemically using a monoclonal antibody against u-PAR.


RESULTS
u-PAR expression was mainly observed both on cancer cells and stromal cells. Patients with high u-PAR expression in cancer cells or stromal cells had a high relapse rate compared with patients with low u-PAR expression by the Kaplan-Meier method (p = 0.035 and 0.011, respectively). In uni- and multivariate analysis, u-PAR expression in stromal cells was significantly correlated with relapse (p = 0.017 and 0.043, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown that not only cancer cells but also stromal cells have an important roles in breast cancer invasion and metastasis, and that u-PAR expression in cancer cells and stromal cells might be a novel prognostic factor in breast cancer.
Kim
S J
SJ
Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Shiba
E
E
Taguchi
T
T
Watanabe
T
T
Tanji
Y
Y
Kimoto
Y
Y
Izukura
M
M
Takai
S I
SI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator