THE EXPRESSION OF UROKINASE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR IS A NOVEL PROGNOSTIC FACTOR IN DUKES-B AND DUKES-C COLORECTAL-CANCER

Urokinase type plasminogen activator (u-PA) secreted by cancer cells i s considered to play a key role in promoting invasion and metastasis o f cancer cells. This study was designed to evaluate the expression and prognostic value of u-PA in Dukes B and C colorectal cancer. u-PA exp ression was investigated in 57 Dukes B or C coiorectal cancers using a monoclonal antibody against u-PA. u-PA expression was mainly observed on the cytoplasm of cancer cells, and was associated with relapse, es pecially hematogenous metastasis (p=0.025, the chi(2) test). Patients with high u-PA expression had a lower rate of DFS (9/22 events) compar ed to those with low u-PA expression (6/35 events) (p=0.061, log-rank test). This study demonstrated that u-PA expression might be a novel p rognostic factor in Dukes B and C colorectal cancer.