Relationship of urokinase and urokinase receptor in non-small cell lung cancer to proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and patient survival.

The purpose of the analysis was to ascertain whether the expression of components of the plasminogen activation system possesses an association with several biological parameters. The expression of urokinase (uPA) and urokinase receptor (uPAR) was analyzed in 137 non-small cell lung carcinomas by immunohistochemistry. No relationship could be observed between the proliferative activity of the carcinomas measured by flow cytometry and the expressions of uPA and uPAR. In addition, there was no association of the expressions of uPA or uPAR and vessel density (angiogenesis), neither any significant correlation between the expressions of uPA or uPAR and metastasis. The median survival was shorter for patients with uPA positive carcinomas than for those with uPA negative tumors (60 vs. 111 weeks; p=0.018). The relative risk estimate for patients with uPA positive tumors was increased by a factor of 1.8. In contrast, the expression of uPAR showed no significant correlation with overall survival.