title: Clinical significance of the uPA system in gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been demonstrated that urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is involved in tumor cell metastasis by degrading the extracellular matrix. However, there is little direct evidence of clinical uPA system expression in peritoneal metastatic tissues of gastric cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate uPA system expression in peritoneal tissues of peritoneal and nonperitoneal metastasis patients, and to explore the diagnostic value of the uPA system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expressions of uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1 were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA. uPA activity was detected using a uPA activity kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1 expression in two types of peritoneal tissue in seven patients with peritoneal metastasis. However, uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1 expressions in peritoneal metastatic lesions were significantly higher than those in normal peritoneal tissues of 24 nonperitoneal metastasis patients (P <0.05). Moreover, no statistical discrepancy of uPA activity was observed in various different tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of the uPA system positively correlates with peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. This expression difference in peritoneal or nonperitoneal metastasis patients may provide a reference for diagnosis of peritoneal metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin Road II, Shanghai 200025, China. zhenggang_zhu132@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Youcheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Mingan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Zhuqing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhixiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Xujing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhenggang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator