A high cytosol value of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) may be predictive of early relapse in primary breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
There is now much data that suggest a relationship between angiogenesis and breast cancer prognosis. Angiogenesis is a multistep process resulting from an ordered set of events and regulated by positive and negative modulators of microvessels growth and by the expression of various proteolytic enzymes.


METHODS
We prospectively evaluated VEGF and microvessels density on tumor specimen and cytosolic levels of uPA and PAI-1.


RESULTS
We enrolled 81 primary breast cancer patients. The median follow-up was 38 months. Using the median value as cutoff for the statistical analysis, we found significant correlation between cytosolic levels of uPA and PAI-1 (r = 0.61; p < .0001), between VEGF and steroid hormone receptor status (p = .01), between PAI-1 and tumor grading (p = .009), and between uPA and tumor size greater than 1 cm (p = .04). With respect to the prognosis, we observed a significant correlation between low uPA levels and RFS and an unforeseen, direct correlation between high VEGF values and better RFS.


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary results indicate that the cytosolic level of uPA at diagnosis may be predictive of early relapse in primary breast cancer.
Dazzi
Claudio
C
Oncology and Hematology Department, Ospedale Santa Maria delle Croci, Viale Randi 5, 48100 Ravenna, Italy. dazzicla@laserinforma.com
Cariello
Anna
A
Maioli
Patrizia
P
Magi
Serena
S
Rosti
Giovanni
G
Giovanis
Petros
P
Giovannini
Gloria
G
Lanzanova
Giuseppe
G
Marangolo
Maurizio
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator