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Query: UMLS:C0476089 (endometrial cancer)
 11,379 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Invasion and metastasis of malignant cells require the disruption of the extracellular matrix, degradation of basement membranes, and intrusion into connective tissue and vascular and lymphatic spaces. Several studies have indicated a role for urokinase (u-PA) in proteolysis of the extracellular matrix and hence in stromal invasion and metastasis. Many malignant cells are known to secrete u-PA. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-type 2 (PAI-2) is an inhibitor of u-PA and is present in several neoplastic cell lines and malignant ascites. We measured u-PA and PAI-2 antigen in tissue homogenates of normal and malignant endometrium from 21 postmenopausal patients. Enzyme-linked immunoassays which measure the bound and unbound, single-and two-chain form of the activator and bound and unbound form of the inhibitor were used. Urokinase was present in four of seven normal (range, 0.15-0.5; median, 0.15 ng/mg protein) and in significantly higher concentrations in all malignant endometrial homogenates (range, 0.41-9.2; median, 3.4 ng/mg protein), P < 0.001. PAI-2 was detectable in four of seven normal endometrial homogenates at low concentrations (range, 1.1-3.1; median, 1.1 ng/mg protein) and in all malignant tissue homogenates at significantly higher levels (range, 1.6-27.3; median, 4.9 ng/mg protein), P < 0.01. Levels of endometrial PAI-2 were higher in stages IC or greater compared to those in stages IA and 1B cancers (P < 0.05). PAI-2 may be useful as a prognostic marker in endometrial cancer.
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PMID:The plasminogen activator urokinase and its inhibitor PAI-2 in endometrial cancer. 142 3

Urokinase (u-PA) induced proteolysis of the extracellular matrix appears to be involved in stromal invasion by tumor cells and metastasis. Many malignant cells are known to secrete u-PA. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-type 2 (PAI-2) is an inhibitor of u-PA and is present in several neoplastic cell lines and malignant ascites. We measured u-PA and PAI-2 antigen in tissue homogenates of normal and malignant endometrium from 21 postmenopausal patients. Enzyme linked immunoassays which measure the bound and unbound, single and two chain form of the activators and bound and unbound form of the inhibitor were used. Urokinase was present in four of seven normal (range 0.15-0.5, median 0.15 ng/mg protein) and in all malignant endometrial homogenates (range 0.41-9.2, median 3.4 ng/mg protein), p < 0.001. PAI-2 was detectable in four of seven normal endometrial homogenates at low concentrations (range 1.1-3.1, median 1.1 ng/mg protein) and in all malignant tissue homogenates at higher levels (range 1.6-27.3, median 4.9 ng/mg protein), p < 0.01. Levels of PAI-2 were higher in Stage II/III compared to Stage I malignancy (p < 0.01) and in cancers that had invaded 50% or more of the uterine wall compared to less invasive cancers, p < 0.01. PAI-2 may be useful as a prognostic marker in endometrial cancer.
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PMID:Uterine fibrinolytic enzymes in endometrial cancer. 825 95