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

BACKGROUND

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator is important for matrix degradation and motility of cancer cells. For effective invasion, urokinase has 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 Northern hybridization and correlated expression levels to clinical and histopathologic 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 show no statistically significant correlations to T staging, metastasis, recurrence, or differentiation stage of the resected tumors. Furthermore, there was no correlation between urokinase and urokinase receptor expression levels 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 tumors. Comparison of our data with previously published reports is discussed.