In vitro receptor imaging for characterization of human solid tumors

• Published in: Nuclear medicine and biology Vol. 21; no. 5; p. 771
• Main Authors: Del Vecchio, S, Stoppelli, M P, Carriero, M V, Fonti, R, Massa, O, Li, P Y, Botti, G, Cerra, M, D'Aiuto, G, Esposito, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-07-1994
• Subjects: Autoradiography; Breast Diseases - diagnosis; Breast Diseases - enzymology; Breast Diseases - metabolism; Breast Diseases - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - enzymology; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator - metabolism
• ISSN: 0969-8051
• DOI: 10.1016/0969-8051(94)90048-5

Since many of the factors involved in tumor growth and progression act through a receptor-mediated mechanism, we applied in vitro receptor imaging techniques to study the intratumoral distribution and concentration of receptor-molecules having experimental biological relevance in such processes. Here we summarize the results of a study concerning the role of urokinase receptor (uPAR) in the acquisition of an invasive phenotype by tumor cells. Independently of the system studied, we demonstrated that in vitro receptor imaging techniques can be used to define the biological characteristics of human solid tumors and can contribute to clarify the complex network of ligand/receptor interactions leading to tumor spread.