Increased plasminogen activator (PA) secrection has been observed in transformed and malignant cells and PA is thought to be involved in the processes of invasion and metastasis. Recently both types of plasminogen activator such as tissue type PA (tPA) and urokinase type PA (uPA), have been detected in human plasma.In this study, to investigate the relationship between circulating PA and malignant state, we have measured plasma PA levels (PA activity, tPA and uPA antigen) in 69 women with gynecologic malignancies. These levels were compared to levels in a control group of 33 women with benign gynecologic tumors.
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