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K. Mengele, N. Harbeck, U. Reuning, V. Magdolen, M. Schmitt
Tumor-associated prognostic factors of the plasminogen activator family: determination and clinical value of u-PA, t-PA, PAI-1, and PAI-2
Proteolyticfactors belongingtothe plasminogenactivator family (plasmin, u-PA, t-PA, u-PAR, PAI-1, and PAI-2), which usually are involved in blood clotting and degradation of blood clots, are also present in healthy and diseased tissue of the kidney, lung, liver, gastro-intestinal tract, breast, prostate, ovary, and brain. These factors are engaged in brain development, angiogenesis and vascular in-vasion, wound healing as well as in placenta development and embryogenesis. Plasminogen activators u-PA and t-PA, their inhibitors PAI-1 and PAI-2, and the u-PA-receptor (u-PAR, CD87) are often elevated in solid malignant tumour tissues compared to their normal counterparts. In breast cancer patients, an elevated tumour tissue extract antigen content of u-PA, PAI-1, and u-PAR is associated with increased tumour aggressiveness and poor prognosis; in contrary, an elevated content of t-PA and PAI-2 indicates a favourable prognosis. For clinical relevant determination of these proteolytic factors in tumour tissue extracts, only enzymo-immunometric tests (ELISA) are recommended. Enzymometric and enzymographic tests are actually conducted only in an experimental, preclinical context.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Schattauer
Print ISSN: 0340-6245
Volume: 25, 01/2005
Pages: 301 - 310