Increased levels of urokinase receptor in plasma of head and neck squamouscell carcinoma patients

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is important for matrix degradat ion and motility of cancer cells. The binding of uPA to its cell surface re ceptor on cancer calls is essential for effective invasion. A soluble form of urokinase receptor (suPaR) has been described in serum and ascites of ov arian cancer patients and in plasma samples of non-small cell lung cancer p atients. Plasma samples from 36 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patie nts and 24 healthy control persons were analysed for the presence of suPAR using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the expression levels w ere correlated with clinical and histopathological data. Significantly elev ated levels of suPAR in blood plasma from head and neck cancer patients wer e observed (p = 0.000), and the suPAR plasma levels decreased after resecti on of the carcinoma in 8 of 11 patients. suPAR plasma levels of cancer pati ents showed no significant correlations with T staging, metastasis. recurre nce or differentiation stage of the rumours. The significance of suPAR plas ma levels in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients for prognosis o f the disease is discussed.