The urokinase type of plasminogen activator in cancer of digestive tracts.

ABSTRACT

The amounts of urokinase (UK) antigen and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen were determined in plasma, urine and tissues of patients with cancer of digestive tracts. Urinary levels of UK, but not those of t-PA increased in patients with cancer, and generally decreased after the removal of cancer by operation. Urinary UK levels kept increasing in patients with recurrence of cancer or with metastasis into liver or peritoneum. Plasma levels of t-PA, but not those of UK decreased in patients with cancer. When the amounts of UK were compared in cancer tissues and their adjacent normal mucosal layer, cancer tissues always had higher levels of UK, but t-PA levels were same between tumor tissues and normal mucosa. The results suggest that the type of plasminogen activator was UK-type in cancer of digestive tracts.