A study on relation between urokinase-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor,inhibitors expression and invasion and metastasis as well as prognosis of breast carcinoma

Objective To explore the expressions and biological significance of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor (uPA-R), inhibitors (PAI-1) in breast carcinoma and breast benign tumor by immunohistochemistry. Method The expression of uPA, uPA-R and PAI-1 in breast carcinoma group and benign disease group were detected by SP immunohistochemistry method. Result The positive number of uPA, uPA-R and PAI-1 immunohistochemistry staining in the breast carcinoma group was significantly higher than those of breast benign disease group. The positive rate of uPA and uPA-R in patients with lymph node metastasis were significantly higher than those without metastasis. The expression of uPA, uPA-R and PAI-1 had relation with TNM staging and the size of tumor, but not with ER receptor and PR receptor. The level of uPA, uPA-R and PAI-1 increased in the group with worse pathologic staging. Conclusion The expression of uPA, uPA-R and PAI-1 has relation with the invasion and metastasis of breast carcinoma, which can be a biological marker for predicting the prognosis of breast carcinoma.