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Tissue-type Plasminogen Activator, a New Prognostic Marker in Breast Cancer

Departments of Nuclear Medicine [M. J. D., P. O'G., L. O'S.], Pathology [D. D.] and Medical Oncology [J. J. F.], St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland; and the Center for Thrombosis and Vascular Research, University of Louvain, Louvain, Belgium [H. R. L.]

Plasminogen activator is a protease existing in two forms known as tissue-type and urokinase-type plasminogen activator. In this investigation, patients with breast cancers containing high levels of the tissue-type enzyme had a significantly longer disease-free interval and survival compared with patients with low levels of the enzyme. For the disease-free interval, the effect of tissue-type plasminogen activator was independent of tumor stage, grade, axillary node involvement, and estradiol receptor status. It is concluded that tissue-type plasminogen activator is a new prognostic marker in breast cancer.

¹ To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Nuclear Medicine Department, St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Received 8/ 3/87. Revised 10/29/87. Accepted 11/18/87.

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