Prognostic relevance of tumour cell-associated uPAR expression in invasive ductal breast carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a key molecule for pericellular proteolysis in tumour cell invasion and metastasis. The aim was to evaluate the prognostic impact of uPAR in invasive breast cancer dependent on which cell types within the tumour express uPAR.


RESULTS
uPAR expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry in 270 tumour tissue specimens of invasive ductal breast carcinomas using tissue microarrays. For evaluation of uPAR immunoexpression we used the epitope-mapped, uPAR domain II-specific monoclonal antibody IID7. High uPAR score values in both tumour cells (uPAR-Tc) and stromal cells were significantly related to high tumour grade (G3), and inversely correlated with oestrogen receptor status. On multivariate analysis, high uPAR-Tc values contributed independent prognostic information for disease-free survival (hazard ratio 1.93, P = 0.007) when adjusted for prognostically relevant clinicopathological parameters, whereas uPAR expression in stromal cells was not related to prognosis. In addition, elevated uPAR-Tc values were found to be prognostic indicators in clinically relevant subgroups of patients with invasive breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
In invasive breast cancer uPAR expression in invasive carcinoma cells, but not in stromal cells, has a significant impact on patients' prognosis, and contributes to a more aggressive tumour phenotype.
Kotzsch
Matthias
M
Institut für Pathologie, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. matthias.kotzsch@uniklinikum-dresden.de
Bernt
Katharina
K
Friedrich
Katrin
K
Luther
Elvira
E
Albrecht
Sybille
S
Gatzweiler
Axel
A
Magdolen
Viktor
V
Baretton
Gustavo
G
Zietz
Christian
C
Luther
Thomas
T
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator