title: Urokinase receptor forms in serum from non-small cell lung cancer patients: relation to prognosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the prognostic impact of the different forms of the receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPAR) in serum from 171 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum sampled preoperatively was available from 171 patients radically resected for NSCLC. Intact uPAR, uPAR(I-III), intact and cleaved uPAR, uPAR(I-III)+uPAR(II-III) and the liberated uPAR(I) were measured by time-resolved fluorescence immunoassays (TR-FIAs 1-3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  High serum levels of each of the three uPAR forms were associated with short overall survival (OS). In a multivariate survival analysis uPAR(I-III) (hazard ratio (HR)=2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-4.5, p=0.015) and uPAR(I) (hazard ratio (HR)=1.5, 95% CI: 1.0-2.2, p=0.0497) remained significant prognostic parameters independent of stage, histology, age, performance status and therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This retrospective study shows that uPAR(I-III) and uPAR(I) in serum are independent prognostic factors in patients radically operated for NSCLC. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these markers for clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen Biocenter, Ole Maaloesvej 5, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
authors.forename: Charlotte Elberling
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Almasi
authors.forename: Ib Jarle
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Høyer-Hansen
authors.forename: Keld
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Danø
authors.forename: Helle
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pappot
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dienemann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D011379:Prognosis; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator