Df. Jarrard et al., UROKINASE PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR IS NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT FOR PROSTATE-CANCER CELL INVASION, Invasion & metastasis, 15(1-2), 1995, pp. 34-45
The expression and function of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA),
an extracellular protease, were examined in four established prostate
cancer lines, and one uPA-transfected cell line. The cell lines exhibi
ted variable efficiency in uPA transcription, translation and specific
proteolytic activity. A statistically significant inhibition of Boyde
n chamber invasion by anti-uPA monoclonal antibodies was demonstrated
in cell lines TSU-PR1 and PC3. This inhibition suggests a direct role
for uPA in the invasion of prostate cancer. However, variable processi
ng of uPA mRNA, protein and proteolytic activity make prediction of in
vitro invasion of prostate cancer difficult. Stable transfection expe
riments suggest that the proteolytic cascade generated by a cell is mu
ltiform and solitary alterations in uPA may not modify the proteolytic
capability for invasion.