Expression of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator is associated with epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Objective: To identify the significance of urokinase-type plasminogen activator(UPA) expression in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.Methods: UPA expression was measured by immunohistochemical staining in 15 normal ovary,15 benign ovarian tumor and 89 epithelial ovarian carcinoma.Results: UPA was negative in all 15 normal ovary and 14 in 15 benign ovarian tumor.The positive rate of UPA was 59.55% in ovarian carcinoma.The UPA positive rates in Stage(Ⅰ+Ⅱ) and Stage(Ⅲ+Ⅳ) were 41% and 74%,and it was significantly higher in advanced stages.The UPA expression was associated with the tumor grades,its positive rates were 25% in grade 1,59.8% in grade 2 and 80% in grade 3.The UPA positive rate in primary ovarian carcinoma was lower than in metastatic tumor,(64.2% vs 84.2%).Conclusion: The UPA expression can help to judge whether a ovarian tumor is benign or malignant.The UPA expression was significantly associated with the invading and metastasis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma.