[The relationship between the activation of ERK and the up-regulation of uPA in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between the expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) as well as its effect on the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (ISCC).


METHODS
Western blot was used to detect ERK1/2 protein expression, meanwhile, the change of ERK1/2 activity was examined to measure its efficiency of phosphate transferase in 40 LSCC. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect uPA protein expression. The correlation of each factor with relevant clinical factor was statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
Expression of ERK1/2 showed a positive linear correlation (P < 0.05). Neither ERK1 nor ERK2 expression was significantly related to T-grades, histological classes and cervical lymph node status. Neither T-grades, nor histological classes was significantly related to ERK1/2 activity or uPA protein expression. There was significant correlation between ERK1/2 activity and cervical lymph node status and between uPA protein expression and cervical lymph node status (P < 0.05). ERK1/2 protein expression was correlated with neither ERK1/2 activity nor uPA protein expression, but there was a significant positive linear association between ERK1/2 activity and uPA protein expression (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal activation of ERK may play an important role in cervical lymph node metastasis of LSCC by up-regulation of uPA expression.
Wang
Dali Wang Yano Ren Zhong
DW
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, the Second Hospital, the Chinese Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China.
Wang
Dali
D
Wang
Yan
Y
Ren
Zhong
Z
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*
C535150:MAPK1 protein, human; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator