Urokinase-plasminogen-activator levels and prognosis in 69 soft-tissue sarcomas

Abstract

The local and systemic invasiveness of soft-tissue sarcomas may depend upon an interaction between the primary tumour and the extracellular matrix in which the proteolytic enzyme, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), may have an important role. We analyzed the expression of uPA in soft-tissue sarcoma using a luminescent immunoassay technique, and examined the relationships between different uPA levels and tumour characteristics and behaviour. We evaluated 69 adult patients with surgically treated soft-tissue sarcomas (MFH 43, leiomyosarcoma 8, liposarcoma 5, synovial sarcoma 4, others 9) of the extremities and trunk wall. Sixteen developed local recurrences, 26 developed metastases, and 5 ..