UROKINASE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR AND OUTCOME IN DUKES B-COLORECTAL-CANCER

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) is a serine protease invol ved in cancer metastasis. Using immunohistochemical methods, we examin ed the relation between u-PA and long-term survival in 70 patients wit h Dukes' B colorectal cancer. 8-year survival was 81% in patients whos e tumours demonstrated low-grade epithelial u-PA staining and 43% in t hose with high-grade staining (log-rank test, p=0.01). Survival was un related to stromal u-PA staining. These results suggest that u-PA may be useful in the identification of patients with non-metastatic colore ctal cancer at risk of tumour recurrence.