Tissue-type plasminogen activator activity in morphologically normal tissues adjacent to gastrointestinal carcinomas is associated with the degree of tumor progression.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the level of plasminogen activator (PA) activity assayed in gastrointestinal carcinomas and the "morphologically normal tissues" adjacent to them is associated with the degree of tumor progression.


METHODS
Tumor and "normal tissues" were obtained from gastrointestinal surgical samples to assess urokinase-type (u-PA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activities by radial caseinolytic assay and the expression of PA inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) by ELISA. We compared the PA system between the tumor and "normal tissues" and we investigated the existence of correlations between: (a) PA production in the tumor and "normal tissues", (b) different components of the PA system, and (c) PA system and the degree of tumor progression.


RESULTS
(1) Total PA activity, u-PA activity and PAI-1 expression are significantly higher in tumor than in "normal tissues", whereas t-PA activity does not differ between them. (2) Total PA activity mainly correlates with u-PA activity in tumor tissues and similarly with u-PA and t-PA activities in "normal tissues". (3) There is a significant association between t-PA activity in tumor and "normal tissues" and the degree of tumor progression.


CONCLUSIONS
"Morphologically normal tissues" adjacent to carcinomas present abnormal t-PA activity that is associated with the degree of tumor progression. Assaying of this activity could be useful as a predictive parameter.
Scicolone
Gabriel
G
School of Medicine, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Prof E De Robertis, University of Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, 1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina. gscicolo@mail.retina.ar
Sanchez
Viviana
V
Vauthay
Liliana
L
Fuentes
Federico
F
Scicolone
Alejandro
A
Scicolone
Lorenzo
L
Rapacioli
Melina
M
Flores
Vladimir
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D012007:Rectum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D013270:Stomach / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator