title: Clinical utility of level-of-evidence-1 disease forecast cancer biomarkers uPA and its inhibitor PAI-1.
abstract: The prognostic and/or predictive value of the cancer biomarkers, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitor (plasminogen activator inhibitor [PAI]-1), determined by ELISA in tumor-tissue extracts, was demonstrated for several cancer types in numerous clinically relevant retrospective or prospective studies, including a multicenter breast cancer therapy trial (Chemo-N0). Consequently, for the first time ever for any cancer biomarker for breast cancer, uPA and PAI-1 have reached the highest level of evidence, level-of-evidence-1. At present, two other breast cancer therapy trials, NNBC-3 and Plan B, also incorporating uPA and PAI-1 as treatment-assignment tools are in effect. Furthermore, small synthetic molecules targeting uPA are currently in Phase II clinical trials in patients afflicted with advanced cancer of the ovary, breast or pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik der Technischen Universitaet Muenchen, Germany. manfred.schmitt@lrz.tum.de
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mengele
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Napieralski
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Magdolen
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Reuning
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gkazepis
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sweep
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brünner
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foekens
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harbeck
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator