title: Increased plasma levels of urokinase plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in nonsmall cell lung cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The involvements of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in the pathogenesis of various types of lung cancers have been established. The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of MMP-9 and uPA in the plasma of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gelatin zymography and ELISA were used to measure MMP-9 and uPA concentrations, respectively, in 90 NSCLC patients and 50 control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with that of control subjects, MMP-9 and uPA levels were significantly higher in the plasma of NSCLC patients (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). Further statistical analysis for clinic pathological parameters revealed that MMP-9 and uPA levels were significantly increased in patients with metastasis (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Furthermore, the MMP-9 level was significantly different between smokers and nonsmokers (P<0.05) while uPA levels varied between histological types (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma MMP-9 and uPA might play an important role in the metastasis of NSCLC by involvement in the processes of invasion and metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shun-Fa
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yih-Shou
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Chiao-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Nan-Yung
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Fen-Pi
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005780:Gelatin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9