Expression of uPA and nm23-H1 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in relation to cancer invasion/metastasis

Objective To study the expressions of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and nm23-H1 and the correlationship to invasion and metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Methods The expression of uPA and nm23-H1 at protein level was examined in 55 cases of LSCC with strep avidin-biotin complex (SABC) immunohistochemical technique. Results The rates of the positive expression in LSCC of uPA and nm23-H1 were 67.3% and 54.5% respectively, and the expression of uPA had a negative correlation with the expression of nm23-H1(P0.05). The expression of uPA was of positive relation to TNM staging or cervical lymph node metastasis(P0.05). The expression of nm23-H1 was of negative relation to TNM staging or cervical lymph node metastasis(P0.05). Cases of LSCC with uPA(+)/nm23-H1(-) revealed significantly higher tendency of cervical lymph node metastasis than those with uPA(-)/nm23-H1(+) (P0.05). Conclusion The expressions of uPA and nm23-H1 are correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis and TNM staging, and combined detection of these two may provide a useful clinical evidence.