Relationship between expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and tumor angiogenesis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Objective To explore the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator(uPA) in epithelial ovarian carcinoma(EOC) and the relationship of the expression to microvessel density.Methods SP immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the expression of uPA in ovarian cancer(85 cases),borderline ovarian tumor(16 cases),benign ovarian tumor(39 cases) and normal ovarian tissue(24 cases).Microvessels in ovarian cancer were marked by CD34,and microvessel density(MVD) was determined by direct count.The relationship between uPA and MVD was analyzed.The 85 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were followed up.Results The highest positive rate of uPA existed in the patients with EOC.There was a correlation between the expression of uPA and MVD and the differentiation of EOC,clinical stage,lymphatic metastasis,omental metastasis,and 5 years survival rate.A significant positive correlation was found between the expression of uPA in EOC and MVD(r=0.56,P=0.02).Conclusion uPA may promote the angiogenesis of EOC,and participate in the occurrence,development,invasion and metastasis of ovarian cancer.The detection of uPA and MVD may be used as an indicator of biological behaviors and prognosis of ovarian cancer.