Urokinase expression in course of benign and malignant mammary lesions: comparison between nodular and healthy tissues

Purpose Increased expression of urokinase (uPA), a member of the serine protease family, is an effector of metastatic cascade and has been reported in various malignancies, including breast cancer. uPA overexpression in cancer tissues was correlated with a more aggressive phenotype and it is conside...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology 2010, Vol.136 (1), p.157-163
Main Authors: Ceccarelli, Francesca, Fuso, Andrea, Civitelli, Liana, Ranieri, Ersilia, Caprio, Giuliana, Pagni, Paola, Rengo, Mario, Scarpa, Sigfrido
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antineoplastic agents
Biological and medical sciences
Breast - metabolism
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - genetics
Breast Neoplasms - pathology
Cancer Research
Female
Gene Expression Profiling
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Hematology
Humans
Internal Medicine
Lymphocytes - metabolism
Mammary gland diseases
Medical sciences
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Middle Aged
Oncology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Proteases
Rapid Communication
Receptor, ErbB-2 - genetics
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Tumors
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator - genetics
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Summary:Purpose Increased expression of urokinase (uPA), a member of the serine protease family, is an effector of metastatic cascade and has been reported in various malignancies, including breast cancer. uPA overexpression in cancer tissues was correlated with a more aggressive phenotype and it is considered a strong and independent unfavorable prognostic factor in breast cancer. Methods Using real-time PCR assay, we analyzed uPA expression of malignant and benign breast nodular lesions versus healthy tissues (normal breast and lymphocytes). Results We found that besides breast cancer nodule, normal mammary gland and lymphocytes overexpressed uPA too. Tissues obtained from women with benign lesions expressed homogeneous and lower uPA. Conclusions In conclusion, although uPA overexpression is typical of cancer tissues, it could be considered as a feature of the whole organism affected by cancer. On the basis of these first results, uPA could be considered for further studies as a possible useful therapeutic target in breast cancer.
ISSN:0171-5216
1432-1335
DOI:10.1007/s00432-009-0694-1