PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATION SYSTEM AND ITS ROLE IN LUNG-CANCER - A REVIEW

The urokinase pathway of the plasminogen activation is involved in pro teolytic degradation of various tissues, including dissolution of the extracellular matrix and basement membranes during the process of canc er cell invasion. Recent studies have demonstrated that components of the plasminogen activation system have a prognostic impact in breast-, lung-, colorectal, bladder and gastric cancer. A number of studies, r eviewed here, have focused on the role of the plasminogen activation s ystem in different lung cancer types. There seems to be an obvious dif ference between the expression, localization and prognostic impact of the components of the plasminogen activation system in different lung cancer types. The differences seen could be helpful in understanding t he biology of different lung cancer types, and components of the plasm inogen activation system may have prognostic relevance and clinical im plications in some lung cancer types, even though confirmatory studies are needed.