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Plasminogen activators, their inhibitors, and urokinase receptor emerge in late stages of melanocytic tumor progression.
- Source :
-
The American journal of pathology [Am J Pathol] 1994 Jan; Vol. 144 (1), pp. 70-81. - Publication Year :
- 1994
-
Abstract
- Degradation of the extracellular matrix and other tissue barriers by proteases like plasminogen activators (PAs) is a prerequisite for neoplastic growth and metastasis. Recently, we reported that highly metastatic behavior of human melanoma cells in nude mice correlates with urokinase-type PA (u-PA) expression and activity and with PA inhibitor type 1 and 2 (PAI-1, PAI-2) expression. Here we report on the occurrence of components of the PA system in the various stages of human melanoma tumor progression in situ. We studied the protein distribution on freshly frozen lesions of common nevocellular nevi (n = 25), dysplastic (= atypical) nevi (n = 16), early primary melanomas (n = 8), advanced primary melanomas (n = 11), and melanoma metastases (n = 17). Tissue-type PA was present in endothelial cells in all lesions, whereas in metastases it could be detected in tumor cells in a minority of the lesions. u-PA, its receptor, PAI-1, and PAI-2 could not be detected in benign and in early stages but appeared frequently in advanced primary melanoma and melanoma metastasis lesions. u-PA was detected in stromal cells and in tumor cells at the invasive front, the u-PA receptor and PAI-2 in tumor cells, and PAI-1 in the extracellular matrix surrounding tumor cells. Localization of the corresponding messenger RNAs and enzyme activities revealed a similar distribution. We conclude that plasminogen activation is a late event in melanoma tumor progression.
- Subjects :
- Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome pathology
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Hybridization
Melanoma pathology
Plasminogen Activators genetics
Plasminogen Inactivators genetics
RNA, Messenger metabolism
Receptors, Cell Surface genetics
Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
Skin Neoplasms pathology
Tissue Distribution
Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome metabolism
Melanoma metabolism
Plasminogen Activators metabolism
Plasminogen Inactivators metabolism
Receptors, Cell Surface metabolism
Skin Neoplasms metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0002-9440
- Volume :
- 144
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The American journal of pathology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 8291613