RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Urokinase-Plasminogen Activator, a New and Independent Prognostic Marker in Breast Cancer
JF Cancer Research
JO Cancer Res
FD American Association for Cancer Research
SP 6827
OP 6829
VO 50
IS 21
A1 Duffy, Michael J.
A1 Reilly, David
A1 O'Sullivan, Cathriona
A1 O'Higgins, Niall
A1 Fennelly, James J.
A1 Andreasen, Peter
YR 1990
UL http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/50/21/6827.abstract
AB Urokinase plasminogen activator (UK-PA) is a serine protease implicated in cancer invasion and metastasis. In this investigation, patients with breast cancers containing high levels of UK-PA antigen had significantly higher risk of early disease recurrence and shorter overall survival than did patients with low levels of the protein. In univariate analysis, UK-PA was a more powerful discriminator for disease-free interval than axillary node status, tumor size, or estradiol receptor. For overall survival, UK-PA as a prognostic marker, was of similar magnitude to axillary node status but stronger than that of tumor size or estradiol receptor. In multivariate analysis, for both disease-free interval and survival, UK-PA was an independent risk factor, being independent of tumor size, axillary node status, and estradiol receptor. UK-PA appears to be a new and independent prognostic marker in breast cancer. ©1990 American Association for Cancer Research.