Plasminogen activator system in oral squamous cell carcinoma

The plasminogen activator system consists of two plasminogen activators, urokinase (uPA) and tissue (tPA); PA inhibitors (PAI-1, and -2), and a cell surface receptor for uPA (uPAR). The plasminogen activator system is involved at many stages of the metastatic cascade, including matrix remodelling, cell proliferation, and migration. Aims To compare tissue concentrations of the components of the plasminogen activator system in paired tumour tissue and normal tissue in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, and to correlate these with the histopathological grading of the tumour. Methods Thirty-eight paired tissue samples were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA; ng/mg protein) for uPA, tPA, uPAR, PAI-1, and PAI-2. Results Concentrations of uPA, uPAR, PAI-1, and PAI-2 were significantly higher in tumour than in normal oral tissue (median in uPAR tumour 1.6 (range; 0.1–7.5) ng/mg protein; normal = 0.2 (0–2.3), p < 0.05). There were strong correlations between the concentrations of certain components of the plasminogen activator system in particular between uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1 (p < 0.05). Tissue concentrations of some components of the plasminogen activator system correlated with clinical and pathological indexes of aggression of tumours, including differentiation and T-stage. Conclusion The relation between components of the plasminogen activator system, in particular uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1 in invasion, metastasis, prognosis, and survival, requires further investigation in oral squamous cell carcinomas.