Urokinase-type plasminogen activator and outcome in Dukes' B colorectal cancer

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 344; no. 8922; p. 583
• Main Authors: Mulcahy, H E, Duffy, M J, Gibbons, D, McCarthy, P, Parfrey, N A, O'Donoghue, D P, Sheahan, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 27-08-1994
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Colorectal Neoplasms - chemistry; Colorectal Neoplasms - mortality; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Survival Rate; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator - analysis
• ISSN: 0140-6736
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(94)91968-2

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) is a serine protease involved in cancer metastasis. Using immunohistochemical methods, we examined the relation between u-PA and long-term survival in 70 patients with Dukes' B colorectal cancer. 8-year survival was 81% in patients whose tumours demonstrated low-grade epithelial u-PA staining and 43% in those with high-grade staining (log-rank test, p = 0.01). Survival was unrelated to stromal u-PA staining. These results suggest that u-PA may be useful in the identification of patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer at risk of tumour recurrence.