INCREASED PLASMA-LEVELS OF UROKINASE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR DURING HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

When attempting to ensure a better treatment, an early diagnosis of he patocellular carcinoma (HCC) justifies surveillance of the exposed pop ulation. Repeated screenings associate hepatic imaging and blood measu rements. While serum alpha foetoprotein is often elevated and is consi dered as the reference marker, some tumours show normal levels. Urokin ase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) plasma level has recently been p roposed as another HCC marker, measured by means of a radioimmunoassay . Using a commercially available immunoenzymatic kit, we determined u- PA in 44 patients presenting HCC, 46 patients in whom HCC could be exp ected, and 63 normal subjects. u-PA was increased in HCC and non-HCC g roups, when compared to normal subjects. A less than previously report ed difference persisted between HCC and non-HCC groups. This elevation appeared to be linked to the tumour size, in an opposite way to desga mma carboxyprothrombin, another proposed HCC marker: u-PA measurement showed more frequent increase in small tumours than in large or diffus e ones. These differences, as well as the existence of elevated levels in some liver cirrhosis, raise the question as to whether this molecu le could be considered as a predictive marker.