Expression and significance of urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene in human glioma

Objective To investigate the expression and its clinical significance for urokinase type plasminogen activator(uPA) gene in human gliomas. Methods The mRNA level and protein expression of uPA were examined with Northern blot hybridization and immunohistochemical method in 43 cases of gliomas and 5 cases of normal brain tissues. Their relation to the clinical indexes was also comparetively analyzed. Results All tissues expressed 2 5kb transcripts of uPA mRNA. The uPA mRNA level in high grade glioma was considerably higher than those in low grade glioma and normal brains(P0 01), but no significant difference was observed between low grade gliomas and normal brains tissues(P0 05). Levels of uPA mRNA expression in tumor tissues of patients whose tumor recurred in 18 postoperative months and survival period were less than 3 years was significantly higher than counterparts(P0 01). The uPA mRNA expression was considerably correlated with the microvessel quantity(MVQ) in gliomas(r=0 56,P0 01) and had no significant correlation with sex or age of the patients and tumor size. The distribution of uPA protein was mainly in tumor cells and endothelial cells of glioblastomas and anaplastic astrocytomas, whereas it was almost unremarkable in low grade gliomas. Conclusions Expression of uPA gene may take part in glioma invasion, angiogenesis and progression of malignancy, and which may play a role in the recurrence and prognosis.