Objective: To study the expressions and clinical significance of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and uPA receptor (uPAR) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).
Method: The expressions of uPA and uPAR at protein level were examined in 50 cases of LSCC and 10 cases of normal peripheral tissues around cancer (as control) by strep avidin-biotin complex (SABC) immunohistochemical technique. The relationship between the expressions of uPA and uPAR was evaluated by the Spearman's rank correlation test. Mann-Whitney U-test was used to examine association of these factors with conventional clinical pathological factors. Pearson's chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between uPA, uPAR and cervical lymph node status.
Result: The rates of the positive expression in LSCC of uPA and uPAR were 66% and 62% respectively, and a positive relationship between expression of uPA and uPAR (P < 0.05). There was significant correlation between the level of uPA expression and TNM stage or cervical lymph node status, either between the level of uPAR expression and TNM stage or cervical lymph node status. Neither tumor size, T-category, nor grade was significantly related with the level of uPA or uPAR expression. LSCC cases with concourse positive expression of these proteins revealed significant higher tendency of cervical lymph node metastasis than those with concourse negative expression (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: The expression of uPA and uPAR are increased in LSCC, and uPA, uPAR may contribute significantly to LSCC invasion and metastasis.