title: Clinical significance of urokinase-type plasminogen activator activity in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: METHODS
  The plasminogen activation system plays a crucial role in the process of cancer invasion and metastasis. To evaluate the most effective factor in the invasion, metastasis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we examined urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, PAI-2 and uPA activity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in HCC tissues obtained from 46 patients. The results were compared with the patients' clinicopathological features and prognoses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the clinicopathological features, only histological portal involvement or intrahepatic metastasis, or both (INV), was significantly correlated to the disease-free survival rates (DFS; P < 0.05). The levels of uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 antigens were significantly associated with INV and histological grade. The DFS was not different, however, between cases with uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 values above and below the median. The high levels of uPA activity were closely related to INV (P < 0.001), and the activity gradually raised histological grades (P < 0.0001). The DFS was significantly different between patients with uPA activity below and above the median (0.70 ng/mL; P = 0.0092); it was also significantly different between such patients without INV (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urokinase-type plasminogen activator activity may be the most sensitive factor affecting HCC invasion in the plasminogen activation system and a strong predictor for the recurrence of HCC. We suggest that cases with uPA activity of more than 0.70 ng/mL should be carefully followed up for possible HCC recurrence.
authors.affiliation: First Division of Pathology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanamaru
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itoh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017396:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D017396:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 2; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator