title: Combined expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and proliferating cell nuclear antigen at the deepest invasive portion correlates with colorectal cancer prognosis.
abstract: To examine the relationship among the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), invasive/metastatic potential and prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC), 58 patients with surgically resected advanced CRC were studied. u-PA expression and proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index (PCNA-LI) at the deepest invasive portion were examined immunohistochemically. u-PA expression was detected in 37 (63.8%) of 58 lesions. Lesions with liver metastasis showed a significantly (p < 0.01) higher incidence of u-PA expression than those without liver metastasis. Dukes staging also revealed a significant correlation with u-PA expression. The combination of u-PA expression and elevated PCNA-LI at the deepest invasive portion correlated significantly with prognosis. These results indicate that u-PA expression is an important predictor of CRC development and liver metastasis. Furthermore, combined analysis of u-PA expression and PCNA-LI at the deepest invasive portion is very useful in predicting CRC prognosis.
authors.affiliation: HIROSHIMA UNIV,SCH MED,DEPT INTERNAL MED 1,MINAMI KU,HIROSHIMA 734,JAPAN. HIROSHIMA UNIV,SCH MED,DEPT PATHOL,HIROSHIMA 734,JAPAN.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tatsuta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haruma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshihara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sumii
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kajiyama
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shimamoto