[Methylation status of uPA promoter in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma]

To investigate the relationship between methylation status of urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) promoter and invasion/metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Using RT-PCR technique, specimens from 40 patients of LSCC were detected for their expression of the uPA gene. Meanwhile, methylation-specific PCR was used to detect methylation status of uPA promoter.

Positive expression rate of uPAmRNA in LSCC was 65.0% (26/40), and the rate of expression of uPAmRNA in LSCC with cervical lymph node metastasis was higher than that of in LSCC without cervical lymph node metastasis (P <0.05). Methylation of uPA promoter was observed in 8 (20.0%) of 40 cases of LSCC, and the rate of methylation of uPA promoter in LSCC with cervical lymph node metastasis was lower than that of in LSCC without cervical lymph node metastasis (P <0.01). The expression of uPAmRNA was not detected in methylated cancer tissues.

Methylation leads to lose of the uPA gene expression in LSCC. Demethylation of uPA promoter may be correlated to cervical lymph node metastasis.