Study of expression urokinase-type plasminogen activator system in the oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective To detect the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) system ( u-PA, PAI- 1 and PAI-2) on the invasiveness and metastasis of human oral squamous cell carcinoma. Methods 40 cases of OSCC and 20 cases of noraml oral mucosa were collected, SABC immunohistochemical staining was used to analyses the expression of u-PA. PAT-1 and PAI-2. Results The expression of u-PA, PAI-1 and PAT-2 were negative in normal oral mucosa, semi-quantiative analysis revealed that the expression of u-PA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 could be seen in OSCC, however the intensity of expression was difference. The expression of PAI-2 was detected at low level in only 2 cases of 08CC, the expression of u-PA and PAI-1 were low level in 21 cases I , II OSCC and 27 cases no neck lymph node metastasis, but significantly elevated in 19 cases III IV 08CC and 13 cases neck lymph node metastasis (P 0.05), and the u-PA level was significantly correlated with the level of PAT-1 ( P 0.05). Conclusion u-PA and PAT-I may play an important role in OSCC growth and metastasis.