Amplification of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) gene in ductal pancreatic carcinomas identifies a clinically high-risk group.

ABSTRACT: The serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) are known to be involved in the invasion and metastasis of many solid tumors. In this study, we analyzed the role of the uPAR/uPA system in both the development and progression of pancreatic cancer in invasive ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas (PDA) and their premalignant precursors (PanIN lesions) in 50 patients with long-term clinical follow-up. We found overexpression of the uPAR in 48 of 50 invasive carcinomas as well as in a large proportion of high-grade PanIN lesions by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed both high- and low-level amplification of the uPAR gene in approximately 50% of cases with strictly identical patterns between

SUBMITTER: Hildenbrand R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2684189 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature