Upa And Upar Expression In The Renal Pelvis, Ureter Transitional Cell Carcinoma

Objective To study the patterns of the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in human renal pelvis and ureter transitional cell carcinoma and to evaluate the function of uPA and uPAR in tumor invasion and metastasis. Methods Expression of uPA and uPAR were measured by means of PicTureTM immunohistochemistry in 30 cases of transitional cell carcinoma of renal pevis, 20 cases of transitional cell carcinoma of ureter and 10 cases nomal renal pevis and ureter mucosa as controls. The results were analysised statistically. Result uPA and uPAR were both negative in nomal renal pevis and ureter mucosa. Whereas, the positive expressions of uPA and uPAR were intimately correlated to the grade of the tumor cell and the clinical stage of renal pelvis and ureter carcinoma. Chitest analysis showed that uPA and uPAR were overexpressed in higher grade or stage renal pelvis and ureter carcinoma in comparison with lower one. The stained cells for uPA and uPAR were mainly tumor cells and vascular endothelial cells. The positive product of uPA was mainly localized in cellular plasma, whereas uPAR mainly on membrance. Conclusion Overexpression of uPA and uPAR was a characteristic of renal pevis and ureter carcinoma and significantly correlated to its invasion and metastasis, and may serve as an important factor for the prognosis of the patients.