Urokinase receptor up-regulation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator is important for matrix de gradation and motility of cancer cells. For effective invasion, urokinase h as to be associated with its cell surface receptor.(1) Methods. We analyzed 33 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (hnSCC) and 14 mucosal tissue samples for the expression of urokinase receptor using No rthern hybridization and correlated expression levels to clinical and histo pathologic data. Urokinase expression was determined by fibrin zymography. Results. The expression of urokinase receptor is significantly increased in hnSCC compared with adjacent mucosa. Expression levels in primary tumors s how no statistically significant correlations to T staging, metastasis, rec urrence, or differentiation stage of the resected tumors. Furthermore, ther e was no correlation between urokinase and urokinase receptor expression le vels in SCC samples. Conclusions. Urokinase receptor expression is increased in hnSCC, but it is not useful as a prognostic marker for the metastatic behavior of primary t umors. Comparison of our data with previously published reports is discusse d. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.