Correlation between the urokinase-type plasminogen activator mRNA expression with the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma

Objective To investigate the relationship between the urokinase type plasminogen activator(UPA) mRNA expression with the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. Methods UPA mRNA expression in gastric cancer tissue(GCT), tissue near tumor(NT) and tissue far away from tumor(FATT) was examined by Northern Blot technique. Result Positive expression rates of UPA mRNA in GCT, NT and FATT were 85%, 31% and 10% respectively. UPA mRNA expression was not found in the early stage of the cancer, while it was much higher in advanced cancer. Gastric cancer with serosal invasion and lymph node metastasis had much higher expression rate. Conclusions UPA mRNA expression may be a indicator for evaluating the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer.