In Vitro Urokinase Type Plasminogen Activator Levels and Total Plasminogen Activator Activity in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck

Prognostic value of plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

“…We observed higher levels of uPA and PAI‐1 in tumor tissues when compared with their normal counterparts. This is in accordance with other studies concerning HNSCC that reported significantly higher uPA and PAI‐1 levels in tumor specimens than in their normal counterparts 25–33. Recently, using expression profiling, Chin et al34 noted that PAI‐1 was listed in the top 5% of genes that differed at a level of statistical significance between mucosa and tumor.…”

Inhibition of the invasion capacity of carcinoma cells by WX‐UK1, a novel synthetic inhibitor of the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator system

“…22 However, the same authors reported a direct relation between plasmin activity on the cell surface and the invasiveness of different ovarian cell lines, again in accordance with our findings. Furthermore, tissue levels of uPA differed significantly between head-and-neck tumors and healthy tissue, being higher in tumor cells, indicating a higher risk of disease recurrence and death, 9,11 especially in carcinomas of the maxillary sinus. 10 Exceptions were squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, which showed only small differences in uPA expression between tumor and normal tissue by Northern blotting.…”

“…It was shown for different types of solid tumor, including carcinomas, that components of the uPA system are overexpressed and may help tumors to remodel surrounding tissue in the context of tumor enlargement and metastasis formation. [5][6][7][8][9][10] In the present study, we analyzed uPAR expression on the cell surface of carcinoma cell lines originating from head-and-neck, breast and cervical carcinomas. We describe a strong positive correlation between uPAR and invasive potential, especially for SCCHN.…”

Localization of plasminogen activators and their inhibitor in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck

“…6 In vitro studies of squamous cell carcinoma cells of the head and neck have revealed levels of u-PA significantly higher than those of controls. 5,7 The serum level of u-PA activity in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma also is significantly higher than that in normal healthy controls. 16 In the present study, immunoreactivity for the u-PA antigen was observed in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, especially those involving the maxillary sinus.…”