The plasminogen activation system and its role in lung cancer. A review

The urokinase pathway of the plasminogen activation is involved in proteolytic degradation of various tissues, including dissolution of the extracellular matrix and basement membranes during the process of cancer cell invasion. Recent studies have demonstrated that components of the plasminogen activation system have a prognostic impact in breast-, lung-, colorectal, bladder and gastric cancer. A number of studies, reviewed here, have focused on the role of the plasminogen activation system in different lung cancer types. There seems to be an obvious difference between the expression, localization and prognostic impact of the components of the plasminogen activation system in different lung cancer types. The differences seen could be helpful in understanding the biology of different lung cancer types, and components of the plasminogen activation system may have prognostic relevance and clinical implications in some lung cancer types, even though confirmatory studies are needed.