UPAR Expression Pattern in Patients with Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder--Possible Clinical Implications

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2015 Aug 21

PMID 26292086

Citations 10

Authors

Line Hammer Dohn

Helle Pappot

Benedikte Richter Iversen

Martin Illemann

Gunilla Hoyer-Hansen

Ib Jarle Christensen

Peter Thind

Lisbeth Salling

Hans von der Maase

Ole Didrik Laerum

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to confirm the expression and localisation pattern of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) focusing on its possible clinical relevance in patients with urothelial neoplasia of the bladder. uPAR is a central molecule in tissue remodelling during cancer invasion and metastasis and is an established prognostic marker in various cancer diseases other than bladder cancer. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumour-tissue blocks from 186 patients treated with radical cystectomy were analysed. uPAR expression was scored as either negative or positive as well as by the actual score. Separate scores were obtained for cancer cells, macrophages and myofibroblasts at the invasive front and in tumour core. We were able to confirm, in an independent patient cohort, the tissue expression and localisation pattern of uPAR as investigated by Immunohistochemistry as well as a significant association between uPAR positivity and increasing tumour stage and tumour grade. This demonstrates the robustness of our previous and current findings. In addition the association between uPAR positive myofibroblasts and poor survival was reproduced. The highest hazard ratios for survival were seen for uPAR positive myofibroblasts both at the invasive front and in tumour core. Evaluating uPAR expression by the actual score showed a significant association between uPAR positive myofibroblasts in tumour core and an increased risk of cancer specific mortality. Our investigations have generated new and valuable biological information about the cell types being involved in tumour invasion and progression through the plasminogen activation system.

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