TY - JOUR A1 - Horn, Lars-Christian A1 - Pippig, S. A1 - Raptis, Georgios A1 - Fischer, Uta A1 - Köhler, U. A1 - Hentschel, Bettina A1 - Martin, Rosemarie T1 - Clinical relevance of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix JF - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology N2 - Objective The expression of uPA and PAI‐1 as parameters of tumour‐associated proteolysis has been implicated in the process of tumour cell invasion and the metastatic process. However, there is limited information on the impact of these parameters in cervical carcinoma. Methods Quantitative levels for uPA (n = 114) and PAI‐1 (n = 103) were researched in operatively treated, surgically staged squamous cell cancer of the uterine cervix, using an ELISA‐technique. Results were assessed regarding their impact in predicting pelvic lymph nodes metastases, tumour recurrence rate and recurrence free survival (RFS) using uni‐ and multivariate analysis. Results Median levels of both parameters were significantly higher in tumour tissue than in normal cervical tissue (p < 0.001). Detection of uPA gave no useful prognostic information. PAI‐1 concentration showed a positive correlation with advanced tumour stage (p = 0.008), but no significant correlation with nodal status (pN0: 2.6 vs. pN1: 4.0 ng/mg protein; p = 0.092). Using a cut‐off level of 2.4 ng/mg protein, patients with elevated PAI‐1 levels demonstrated reduced RFS (45.9 versus 52.9 months; p = 0.1). Multivariate analysis, including nodal status, tumour stage, lymphovascular space involvement and grading failed to demonstrate any prognostic impact of uPA and PAI‐1. Conclusions The results indicate, that PAI‐1 expression is of some prognostic impact in cervical cancer, indicating an association of elevated PAI levels with local tumour progression and reduced recurrence‐free survival. KW - Plasminogen human-Aktivator KW - Urokinase KW - squamöser Krebs KW - Gebärmutterhals Y1 - 2004 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0004-8666.2002.00385.x VL - 42 IS - 4 SP - 385 EP - 388 ER -