Tumour microenvironments induce expression of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and concomitant activation of gelatinolytic enzymes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is associated with poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and increased expression of uPAR is often found at the invasive tumour front. The aim of the current study was to elucidate the role of uPAR in invasion and metastasis of OSCC, and the effects of various tumour microenvironments in these processes. Furthermore, we wanted to study whether the cells' expression level of uPAR affected the activity of gelatinolytic enzymes.

Methods

The Plaur gene was both overexpressed and knocked-down in the murine OSCC cell line AT84. Tongue and skin tumours were established in syngeneic mice, and cells were also studied in an ex vivo leiomyoma invasion model. Soluble factors derived from leiomyoma tissue, as

SUBMITTER: Magnussen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4144900 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature