title: Markers of the uPA system and common prognostic factors in breast cancer.
abstract: The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) system includes uPA and plasminogen activator inhibitor types 1 (PAI-1) and 2 that mainly act by regulating extracellular matrix degradation, and it is involved in tumor progression. The -675 4G/5G polymorphism of the PAI-1 gene regulates PAI-1 activity in serum. We aimed at studying the -675 4G/5G polymorphism of the PAI-1 gene and uPA, PAI-1, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) immunohistochemical expression in a series of breast cancer cases. Homozygosity for the 4G allele of the PAI-1 gene was associated with node-positive breast cancer ( P = .02). We showed a direct correlation between uPA and estrogen receptor expression ( P = .03); negative uPA expression was associated with negative hormonal expression, high tumor grade, and high proliferation index ( P < .05). A direct correlation was seen between uPA and PAI-1, uPA and COX-2, and PAI-1 and COX-2 expression ( P < .05). Interaction between uPA and COX-2 systems in breast cancer deserves further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro Marco
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Minisini
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fabbro
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Loreto
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pestrin
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Giovanni Gerardo
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Cardellino
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andreetta
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Damante
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Puglisi
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011379:Prognosis; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator