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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
3-D Cell Culture System for Studying Invasion and Evaluating Therapeutics in Bladder Cancer
Published on: September 13, 2018
Components of the plasminogen activator system and their complexes in renal cell and bladder cancer: comparison
Paul N Span1, Johannes A Witjes, Nicolai Grebenchtchikov
1Department of Chemical Endocrinology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. p.span@ace.umcn.nl
Objective:
To analyse and compare the concentration of plasminogen activator (PA), urokinase-type PA (uPA), tissue-type PA (tPA), PA inhibitor (PAI)-1 and PAI-2, and the complexes uPA-PAI-1 and tPA-PAI-1 and calculated uPA and tPA uncomplexed with PAI-1 ('free') in urothelial cell carcinoma and matched benign urothelium, and in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and matched benign renal tissue.
Patients And Methods:
Tissue samples were obtained during cystectomy (33 patients) and nephrectomy (55), and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to assess the PA components in extracts of these tissues.
Results:
Tissue levels of uPA-PAI-1 and tPA-PAI-1, but also PAI-1 itself, were greater in tumorous bladder and kidney tissue than in matched normal tissue (by 1.5-7.8 times). Free tPA was clearly lower in tumour tissue (by 0-0.12-fold). In bladder cancer, but not in RCC, levels of uPA (15.8-fold) and free uPA (16.4-fold) were greater in tumour tissue. Free uPA levels were less in RCC (0.41-fold). For both normal bladder and kidney tissue, there was no clear correlation between uPA-PAI-1 complex and either component. However, the formation of tPA-PAI-1 complexes in normal bladder and kidney tissue was primarily determined by PAI-1. Interestingly, in tumour tissues there was a strong, significant correlation between complex levels and both components.
Conclusion:
RCC and bladder cancer show distinct profiles of components of the PA system. This study provides a basis for further studies into both the (patho)physiological role of the PA system in these tumours, and into a possible relation with tumour progression and prognosis, and as target for therapy.
