Urokinase receptor up-regulation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator is important for matrix degradation and motility of cancer cells. For effective invasion, urokinase has to be associated with its cell surface receptor.(1)


METHODS
We analyzed 33 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (hnSCC) and 14 mucosal tissue samples for the expression of urokinase receptor using Northern hybridization and correlated expression levels to clinical and histopathologic data. Urokinase expression was determined by fibrin zymography.


RESULTS
The expression of urokinase receptor is significantly increased in hnSCC compared with adjacent mucosa. Expression levels in primary tumors show no statistically significant correlations to T staging, metastasis, recurrence, or differentiation stage of the resected tumors. Furthermore, there was no correlation between urokinase and urokinase receptor expression levels in SCC samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Urokinase receptor expression is increased in hnSCC, but it is not useful as a prognostic marker for the metastatic behavior of primary tumors. Comparison of our data with previously published reports is discussed.
Schmidt
M
M
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Wuerzburg, Germany.
Schler
G
G
Gruensfelder
P
P
Müller
J
J
Hoppe
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator