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Published on: May 27, 2016
Urokinase receptor forms in serum from non-small cell lung cancer patients: relation to prognosis
Charlotte Elberling Almasi1, Ib Jarle Christensen, Gunilla Høyer-Hansen
1Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen Biocenter, Ole Maaloesvej 5, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
Objectives:
To study the prognostic impact of the different forms of the receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPAR) in serum from 171 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
Materials And Methods:
Serum sampled preoperatively was available from 171 patients radically resected for NSCLC. Intact uPAR, uPAR(I-III), intact and cleaved uPAR, uPAR(I-III)+uPAR(II-III) and the liberated uPAR(I) were measured by time-resolved fluorescence immunoassays (TR-FIAs 1-3).
Results:
High serum levels of each of the three uPAR forms were associated with short overall survival (OS). In a multivariate survival analysis uPAR(I-III) (hazard ratio (HR)=2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-4.5, p=0.015) and uPAR(I) (hazard ratio (HR)=1.5, 95% CI: 1.0-2.2, p=0.0497) remained significant prognostic parameters independent of stage, histology, age, performance status and therapy.
Conclusions:
This retrospective study shows that uPAR(I-III) and uPAR(I) in serum are independent prognostic factors in patients radically operated for NSCLC. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these markers for clinical use.