Objective: To study the role of urokinase type plasminogen activator (u-PA) in the invasive process of bile duct carcinoma.
Methods: The secretion of u-PA and the invasive potential of tumor cell in vitro in a newly established cell line of bile duct carcinoma, QBC939, were observed by using an amnion invasion culture system.
Results: QBC939 cells secreted u-PA with high invasive potential. The inhibitors of u-PA and plasmin, tranexamic acid and 6-aminocaproic acid, obviously inhibited the u-PA activity and the invasive potential of QBC939 cells.
Conclusion: u-PA is one of the important enzymes in tumor invasion. Inhibiting u-PA or plasmin may be a prospective therapy for tumor treatment.