Plasminogen activator as a diagnostic marker for preneoplastic cells in human gynecologic specimens

A modified fibrin-agar overlay assay was used to measure the fibrinolytic activity in human cervical epithelial cells. The fibrinolytic activity results from a cell-associated serine protease that acts as a plasminogen activator. An enzymatic and morphologic comparison of individual normal and abnormal cells reveals that about 50% of the dysplastic and carcinoma in situ cells contain high levels of the activator. Forty percent of morphologically normal metaplastic cells also exhibit high activities of plasminogen. Forty percent of morphologically normal metaplastic cells also exhibit high activities of plasminogen activator. Most normal intermediate and superficial epithelial cells and all erythrocytes and leukocytes are inactive. The frequency of plasminogen activator-containing cells was somewhat higher in cytomorphologically abnormal samples than in normal samples.