Urokinase receptor forms in serum from non-small cell lung cancer patients: Relation to prognosis

Objectives: To study the prognostic impact of the different forms of the receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPAR) in serum from 171 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Materials and methods: Serum sampled preoperatively was available from 171 patients radically resected for NSCLC. Intact uPAR, uPAR(I-III), intact and cleaved uPAR, uPAR(I-III)+uPAR(II-III) and the liberated uPAR(I) were measured by time-resolved fluorescence immunoassays (TR-FlAs 1-3). Results: High serum levels of each of the three uPAR forms were associated with short overall survival (OS). In a multivariate survival analysis uPAR(I-III) (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.3.95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-4.5, p=0.015) and uPAR(I) (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0-2.2, p=0.0497) remained significant prognostic parameters independent of stage, histology, age, performance status and therapy. Conclusions: This retrospective study shows that uPAR(I-III) and uPAR(I) in serum are independent prognostic factors in patients radically operated for NSCLC. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these markers for clinical use. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.