UROKINASE PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR AS A PROGNOSTIC MARKER IN DIFFERENT SUBGROUPS OF PATIENTS WITH BREAST-CANCER

Background. Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine protease involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. Previously, uPA was shown to be an independent prognostic marker in breast cancer. The aim of t his study were to evaluate uPA as a prognostic marker in different sub groups of patients with breast cancer. Methods. Urokinase plasminogen activator was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in detergen t extracts of human breast tumors. Results. Using both disease free in terval (DFI) and overall survival (OS) as end points, uPA was an indic ator of prognosis in the following groups of patients: those with posi tive axillary nodes, those who were estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, w omen younger than 50 years of age, and women older than 50 years of ag e. For patients with negative axillary lymph nodes, uPA was a signific ant prognostic marker using DFI as an end point and was almost statist ically significant (P = 0.055) using OS as end point. In patients who were ER-negative, uPA levels showed no significant relationship with p atient outcome. Conclusions. Urokinase plasminogen activator is a sign ificant prognostic marker in most of the major subgroups of patients w ith breast cancer and may be a marker for patients with negative axill ary lymph nodes.