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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Optimization of a Multiplex RNA-based Expression Assay Using Breast Cancer Archival Material
Published on: August 1, 2018
Urokinase expression in course of benign and malignant mammary lesions: comparison between nodular and healthy
Francesca Ceccarelli1, Andrea Fuso, Liana Civitelli
1UOC Medicina territoriale chirurgica e prevenzione oncologica, Department of Surgery "P. Valdoni", Sapienza University of Rome, C.so Vittorio Emanuele II, 244, 00186 Rome, Italy.
Purpose:
Increased expression of urokinase (uPA), a member of the serine protease family, is an effector of metastatic cascade and has been reported in various malignancies, including breast cancer. uPA overexpression in cancer tissues was correlated with a more aggressive phenotype and it is considered a strong and independent unfavorable prognostic factor in breast cancer.
Methods:
Using real-time PCR assay, we analyzed uPA expression of malignant and benign breast nodular lesions versus healthy tissues (normal breast and lymphocytes).
Results:
We found that besides breast cancer nodule, normal mammary gland and lymphocytes overexpressed uPA too. Tissues obtained from women with benign lesions expressed homogeneous and lower uPA.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, although uPA overexpression is typical of cancer tissues, it could be considered as a feature of the whole organism affected by cancer. On the basis of these first results, uPA could be considered for further studies as a possible useful therapeutic target in breast cancer.
