顺铂对人子宫内膜癌RL-952细胞系Matriptase,uPA-mRNA表达的影响

目的探讨顺铂对人子宫内膜癌RL-952细胞系Matriptase,uPA-mRNA表达的影响。方法体外培养人子宫内膜癌RL-952细胞,采用反转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测顺铂对人子宫内膜癌RL-952细胞Matriptase,uPA-mRNA表达的影响。结果 Matriptase,uPA-mRNA在人子宫内膜癌RL-952细胞系呈阳性表达。顺铂可下调Matriptase,uPA-mRNA在人子宫内膜癌RL-952细胞系的表达,具有浓度依赖性。8mg/L顺铂溶液作用不同时间后,4h后RL-952细胞Matriptase-mRNA表达量即明显下降(P0.05),而uPA-mRNA表达量于作用8h后才开始下降(P0.05),具有时间依赖性。结论顺铂可抑制人子宫内膜癌RL-952细胞系Matriptase,uPA-mRNA的表达,并具有浓度依赖性。8 mg/L的顺铂作用于人子宫内膜癌RL-952细胞后,Matriptase-mRNA比uPA-mRNA更早出现表达下调的变化。     

Matriptase与子宫内膜癌细胞株侵袭迁移能力的相关性研究

目的:探讨Matriptase与子宫内膜癌细胞侵袭转移能力的相关性。方法:采用荧光定量PCR和Western blot法检测HEC-1A、HEC-1B和RL952细胞中Matriptase、HAI-1 mRNA和蛋白表达水平;构建Matriptase基因SiRNA慢病毒载体,采用RNA干扰技术,对Matriptase高表达的HEC-1A和RL952细胞进行瞬时转染,从而达到抑制Matriptase基因表达水平的目的。应用细胞划痕实验及穿膜小室实验观察干扰前后癌细胞体外侵袭及迁移能力的改变。结果:荧光定量PCR检测结果显示,Matriptase和HAI-1 mRNA在HEC-1A细胞(0.2123±0.021和0.2827±0.049)和RL-952细胞(0.1778±0.013和0.2420±0.032)中为均阳性表达;在HEC-1B细胞中为阴性表达(0.000695±0.00012和0.00263±0.00043)。Western blot结果显示,Matriptase和HAI-1在HEC-1A细胞和RL-952细胞中为阳性表达,在HEC-1B细胞中为阴性表达。转染siRNA后,HEC-1A细胞和RL-952细胞的Matriptase mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著下降,抑制率达80%以上,HAI-1表达水平未见明显改变,Matriptase/HAI-1比值明显降低(HEC-1A:0.75 vs 0.11,P0.01;RL-952:0.0.73 vs 0.12,P0.01)。细胞划痕实验和穿膜小室实验显示,癌细胞体外侵袭及迁移能力显著下降。结论:Matriptase表达水平与子宫内膜癌细胞侵袭迁移能力呈正相关,Matriptase/HAI-1比值降低亦可能抑制癌细胞的侵袭迁移。     

双酚A激活PI3K/AKT通路促进子宫内膜癌细胞增殖的研究

目的:研究双酚A(bisphenol A,BPA)活化磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B(PI3K/AKT)促子宫内膜癌细胞Ishikawa和RL952增殖的机制。方法:CCK8试剂盒检测Ishikawa和RL952细胞的增殖情况,蛋白质印迹(Western blotting)法检测p-AKT蛋白的表达。结果:在Ishikawa和RL952细胞中,BPA作用48 h时,细胞增殖呈浓度依赖性,1μmol/L的BPA促细胞生长效应最显著,Ishikawa和RL952细胞增殖率分别为0.758±0.023和0.692±0.042。BPA浓度超过1μmol/L后,促细胞增殖的作用下降。BPA作用24 h时促增殖效应不明显,BPA作用72 h时表现出细胞毒作用。1μmol/L BPA处理的Ishikawa和RL952细胞48 h后p-AKT蛋白的表达较对照组升高(P<0.05),加入PI3K抑制剂(LY294002),p-AKT的蛋白表达比对照组降低,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:BPA通过激活PI3K/AKT通路促进子宫内膜癌细胞增殖。     

双酚A激活PI3K/AKT通路促进子宫内膜癌细胞增殖的研究

目的:研究双酚A(bisphenol A,BPA)活化磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B(PI3K/AKT)促子宫内膜癌细胞Ishikawa和RL952增殖的机制。方法:CCK8试剂盒检测Ishikawa和RL952细胞的增殖情况,蛋白质印迹(Western blotting)法检测p-AKT蛋白的表达。结果:在Ishikawa和RL952细胞中,BPA作用48 h时,细胞增殖呈浓度依赖性,1μmol/L的BPA促细胞生长效应最显著,Ishikawa和RL952细胞增殖率分别为0.758±0.023和0.692±0.042。BPA浓度超过1μmol/L后,促细胞增殖的作用下降。BPA作用24 h时促增殖效应不明显,BPA作用72 h时表现出细胞毒作用。1μmol/L BPA处理的Ishikawa和RL952细胞48 h后p-AKT蛋白的表达较对照组升高(P0.05),加入PI3K抑制剂(LY294002),p-AKT的蛋白表达比对照组降低,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:BPA通过激活PI3K/AKT通路促进子宫内膜癌细胞增殖。     

三氧化二砷对人卵巢癌SKOV3细胞侵袭转移能力的影响

目的:探讨三氧化二砷(As2O3)对人卵巢癌细胞系SKOV3细胞侵袭转移能力及其对尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物(uPA)及尿激酶受体(uPAR)表达的影响。方法:采用0.5μmol/L、1μmol/L、2μmol/L 3种浓度的As2O3处理人卵巢癌SKOV3细胞,48h后收集细胞,采用Transwell检测细胞的侵袭转移能力,实时定量PCR及免疫细胞化学方法检测uPA、uPAR mRNA及蛋白表达的变化。结果:经不同浓度As2O3处理的细胞,穿过模拟基底膜的数目逐步减少,As2O3明显抑制SKOV3细胞的侵袭转移能力(P<0.05);细胞uPA及uPARmRNA及蛋白表达水平与对照组相比显著降低(P<0.05),其表达水平随着药物浓度的增加而降低。结论:As2O3可抑制卵巢癌细胞的侵袭转移能力,其机制可能与抑制uPA、uPAR的表达有关。     

VPA、SAHA和DAC对子宫内膜癌细胞系抑制作用的研究

目的:观察丙戊酸(VPA)、软木酰苯胺氧肟酸(SAHA)和5-氮-2-脱氧胞苷(DAC)对子宫内膜癌细胞RL-952和HEC-1-B的增殖抑制作用,及对细胞周期、凋亡情况和上皮型钙黏素(E-cad)基因表达的影响.方法:以VPA、SAHA和DAC作用于子宫内膜癌细胞,应用噻唑蓝(MTr)比色法、流式细胞仪和透射电镜对细胞增殖、周期和凋亡情况进行观察.应用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法观察药物作用后细胞内E-cad mRNA表达的情况.结果:VPA、SAHA和DAC作用HEC-1-B和RL-952细胞,随着药物浓度的增加,增殖抑制率明显增加(6.77％～93.25％和3.24％～89.25％,5.61％ ～97.36％和2.56％～87.85％,8.25％～92.54％和5.56％～93.47％)(P＜0.01);同一浓度药物随着作用时间的延长(24～96小时)对HEC-1-B和RL-952细胞增殖抑制率明显增加(42.41％～82.74％和36.17％ ～71.05％,43.15％～82.09％和40.38％～85.93％,43.26％～91.44％和37.75％ ～ 85.37％)(P＜0.01).HEC-1-B和RL-952细胞G0/G1期所占比例,经VPA、SAHA、DAC作用24小时后均较对照组增高,差异有高度统计学意义(P＜0.01).应用VPA、SAHA和DAC后细胞凋亡发生率均较对照组增高,差异有高度统计学意义(P＜0.01),出现特征性凋亡形态特征.VPA、SAHA和DAC作用后,RL-952和HEC-1-B细胞E-cad mRNA表达上调,较对照组均增加,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论:VPA、SAHA和DAC可有效抑制子宫内膜癌RL-952和HEC-1-B细胞增殖,有明显的细胞周期阻滞和诱导凋亡作用,对E-cad基因具有明显上调作用.     

莪术油对人子宫内膜癌细胞株RL-95-2抑制作用的体外研究

目的研究莪术油注射液在体外对人子宫内膜癌细胞株RL-95-2细胞周期进程的干扰及其可能的机制。方法通过MTT法实验观察莪术油在体外对RL-95-2的抑制作用;流式细胞仪分析其细胞周期的改变;免疫细胞化学法观察部分细胞周期素的表达。结果莪术油注射液对RL-95-2的抑制作用呈时间-剂量依赖性,中效浓度(72h)为222.36μg/ml,1/2此剂量的莪术油作用于Rl-95-2细胞株24小时、48小时、72小时均可引起G0/G1期细胞比例增加,S期、G2/M期细胞比例减少,统计学表明这种改变差异有非常显著性(P<0.01)。免疫细胞化学法显示Cy-clinD1、CyclinE、P16表达增加,CyclinA、突变型P53表达减低。结论莪术油注射液在体外可抑制人子宫内膜癌细胞株RL-95-2增殖,可能系通过促进P16表达增加,而改变细胞周期进程,同时抑制突变型P53表达从而抑制细胞生长的。     

人子宫内膜癌耐醋酸甲羟孕酮细胞株的建立

目的建立人子宫内膜癌孕激素耐药细胞株Ishikawa（ISH）/醋酸甲羟孕酮（MPA）,为子宫内膜癌耐孕激素的发病机制提供基础。方法采用逐步递增MPA浓度方法进行Ishikawa细胞株耐药体外诱导。采用MTS法测定药物敏感性;绘制细胞生长曲线和计算群体倍增时间。结果 （1）成功建立了MPA诱导的人子宫内膜癌耐MPA细胞株ISH/MPA,其对MPA耐药指数为3.35;（2）ISH/MPA在含MPA 10μmol/L的培养基中的细胞倍增时间与Ishikawa在普通培养基中的倍增时间比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,两者生长曲线比较一致。结论成功建立人子宫内膜癌MPA耐药细胞模型ISH/MPA细胞系,为进一步研究子宫内膜癌耐孕激素机制提供了基础。     

UBE3C在雌激素促进子宫内膜癌细胞迁移及侵袭中的作用机制研究

目的:探讨泛素连接酶E3C(UBE3C)在雌激素(E_2)诱导子宫内膜癌细胞发生迁移、侵袭及上皮间质转化(EMT)过程中的作用。方法:免疫组化法检测子宫内膜癌组织中UBE3C表达情况。qRT-PCR及Western blot法检测UBE3C在子宫内膜癌细胞株、子宫内膜间质细胞株及正常子宫内膜上皮细胞中的表达。雌激素以浓度及时间梯度处理Ishikawa细胞,qRT-PCR及Western blot法检测UBE3C mRNA和蛋白表达。雌激素处理siNC或siUBE3C转染的Ishikawa细胞,划痕试验和Transwell侵袭实验检测细胞迁移、侵袭能力,Western blot法检测EMT相关蛋白E-cadherin、N-cadherin、snail及slug表达。结果:UBE3C在子宫内膜癌组织及细胞中高表达。雌激素能上调Ishikawa细胞UBE3C mRNA及蛋白表达,且在一定范围内呈剂量时间依赖性。雌激素刺激增强Ishikawa细胞的迁移、侵袭能力,促进EMT;si-UBE3C干扰能显著抑制上述作用,且能减弱雌激素对Ishikawa细胞迁移、侵袭能力的增强及EMT的促进。结论:UBE3C与雌激素能增强子宫内膜癌细胞的迁移、侵袭能力,促进上皮间质转化,UBE3C可能是雌激素下游重要的靶基因之一,介导雌激素诱导子宫内膜癌细胞的迁移、侵袭及上皮间质转化。     

抑制PI3K/Akt信号通路拮抗胰岛素诱导的子宫内膜癌细胞增殖

目的:研究抑制磷脂酰肌醇3激酶(PI3K)/Akt信号通路对胰岛素诱导的子宫内膜癌细胞增殖的拮抗作用。方法:将无血清饥饿的子宫内膜癌Ishikawa3-H-12细胞分为空白对照组、10-6mol/L胰岛素单独刺激组以及不同剂量PI3K抑制剂-LY294002预处理后再用胰岛素刺激组。Western blot检测各组Akt磷酸化(p-Akt)水平,MTT试验观察细胞增殖情况。结果:胰岛素可引起内膜癌细胞Akt活化,刺激15min后p-Akt/Akt比值显著高于空白对照组(68.68%vs 26.21%,P<0.001)。LY294002以浓度依赖方式抑制胰岛素引起的Akt磷酸化。MTT试验显示,在药物处理24h,48h和72h 3个时间点,不同组别570nm吸光度值(OD570nm)均有显著差异(F=156.329,700.973,812.224,均P<0.001)。胰岛素组OD570nm值均高于同时间点的空白对照组(均P<0.001),胰岛素促内膜癌细胞增殖作用于48h时最为显著。LY294002可抑制胰岛素的增殖促进作用,此抑制作用具有浓度依赖性。不同剂量LY294002抑制作用的时间依赖性不同,48h时小剂量(0.1、1、10μmol/L)的抑制作用最为显著,72h时胰岛素重新呈现一定的促增殖作用;而50μmol/L LY294002可以持久抑制胰岛素的促增殖作用。结论:PI3K抑制剂LY294002可以通过抑制Akt磷酸化阻断胰岛素信号传导,拮抗后者促子宫内膜癌细胞增殖的作用。     

Increased plasma levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator with endometrial and cervical cancer

Plasma concentrations of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (competitive radioimmunoassay), tissue-type plasminogen activator (sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (functional assay) were measured in 17 women with endometrial cancer and 52 women with cervical carcinoma. Significantly increased plasma urokinase-type plasminogen activator antigen levels were found (11.3 +/- 4.7 ng/mL) in cervical cancer patients when compared with an age-matched control group (7.4 +/- 0.6 ng/mL). Women with endometrial cancer (9.9 +/- 2.0 ng/mL) showed a similar pattern of plasma urokinase-type plasminogen activator antigen levels. Patients with advanced cervical cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages III and IV) revealed higher plasma urokinase-type plasminogen activator antigen levels than those with stages I and II disease. Compared with an age-matched control group, neither carcinoma group showed elevated plasma concentrations of tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor.     

溶血磷脂酸在卵巢癌进展中的机制研究

在卵巢癌的发生发展中,脂代谢发挥重要作用,溶血磷脂酸(LPA)作为一种生物活性磷脂分子,通过与多种G蛋白偶联受体结合,参与卵巢癌的增殖、转移和侵袭活动。一方面,LPA可通过促进肿瘤血管新生、调节细胞周期、抑制凋亡、促进糖代谢及维持肿瘤干细胞(CSC)的特性来促进卵巢癌细胞增殖;另一方面,LPA可增加基质金属蛋白酶(MMP)及尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物(u PA)的表达、干预细胞间连接和骨架蛋白、促进上皮-间质转化(EMT),进而促进卵巢癌的转移和侵袭。此外,卵巢癌患者血浆中高水平的LPA单独或与卵巢癌的其他肿瘤标记物联合检测具有更高的敏感度和特异度。综述LPA在卵巢癌增殖、转移和侵袭中的作用机制以及潜在的诊断、治疗靶点方面的研究进展。     

子宫内膜癌患者血清uPA和PAI-1的含量变化及临床意义

目的:探讨子宫内膜癌患者血清尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物(uPA)及纤溶酶原激活物抑制物-1(PAI-1)含量的变化及其临床意义。方法:用ELISA法测定35例子宫内膜癌(内膜癌组)、18例子宫内膜增生(内膜增生组)和16例正常子宫内膜患者(正常对照组)血清uPA和PAI-1含量及计算两者的比值。结果:内膜癌组患者血清uPA和PAI-1含量及uPA/PAI-1值均显著高于内膜增生组及正常对照组,差异有极显著性(P均<0.01)。内膜增生组及正常对照组,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。内膜癌组Ⅲ~Ⅳ期患者血清uPA和PAI-1含量与Ⅰ期相比差异有极显著性(P<0.01),Ⅲ~Ⅳ期患者血清uPA和PAI-1含量高于Ⅱ期(P<0.05),Ⅱ期患者血清uPA、PAI-1含量高于Ⅰ期(P<0.05)。内膜癌组患者血清uPA、PAI-1含量及uPA/PAI-1值随着手术病理分期及组织学分级的增高、肌层浸润深度的增加及淋巴结的转移而升高,差异有显著性(P均<0.05),而与患者病理类型无关(P>0.05)。结论:子宫内膜癌患者血清uPA和PAI-1含量及uPA/PAI-1值明显升高,并与其手术病理分期、浸润转移有关,提示其可能在内膜癌的发生、发展及浸润过程中起重要作用。     

Lysophosphatidic acid enhances epithelial ovarian carcinoma invasion through the increased expression of interleukin-8

OBJECTIVE: We previously reported that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) stimulates cellular invasion of ovarian cancer (OVCA) cells by enhancing membrane-type-1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP)-mediated activation of MMP2. Here, we investigate a second mechanism in which LPA enhances cellular invasion through the increased expression of IL-8, independent of the expression or activation of MMP2. METHODS: Epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells (DOV 13) were exposed to LPA (80 microM) and IL-8 (100 ng/ml) for 24 h. IL-8 expression was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cellular invasion (Matrigel invasion), migration (colloidal gold), and urinary-type plasminogen activator (uPA) activity (colorimetric assay) were quantified. Conditioned medium was also assayed for MMP activation and expression by SDS-PAGE gelatin zymography, ELISA, and Western blotting. In addition, IL-8 neutralizing antibody and MMP inhibitors were employed. RESULTS: Our results found LPA to increase IL-8 expression threefold. IL-8 did not affect cellular migration, MMP2 activation, or uPA expression. However, exposure to various concentrations of IL-8 increased cellular invasiveness. Using an IL-8 blocking antibody and various MMP inhibitors, we determined that the increase in invasion was IL-8-dependent, while independent of the activation of MMP2 or MMP9. We further determined IL-8 exposure increased the expression of matrilysin (MMP7). Cells exposed to LPA and IL-8 resulted in a synergistic effect on cellular invasion. Adding the IL-8 blocking antibody, slightly decreased cellular invasion, indicating LPA in part, increases cellular invasion through the increased expression of IL-8. CONCLUSION: We have identified a separate mechanism of enhanced cellular invasion, which is independent of MMP2 activation and involves the increased expression of IL-8 and subsequent increased expression of MMP7.     

uPA、uPAR与p38在子宫内膜癌组织的表达及意义

目的:探讨尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物(uPA)与其受体uPAR及丝裂原活化蛋白激酶p38在子宫内膜癌组织的表达及相关性,并结合临床病理特征分析其在子宫内膜癌浸润、侵袭转移过程中的作用。方法:采用免疫组织化学方法(PV-6000二步法)检测12例正常子宫内膜(对照组)、20例子宫内膜增生组织(内膜增生组)及50例子宫内膜癌组织(内膜癌组)中uPA、uPAR及p38的表达,并研究其相关性,分析探讨各因子与子宫内膜癌临床病理分期、组织学分级、组织学类型等的关系。结果:(1)内膜癌组患者uPA、uPAR、p38阳性表达率均显著高于内膜增生组及对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);内膜增生组与对照组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);(2)内膜癌组患者uPA和uPAR、p38的表达与临床病理分期、组织学分级、肌层浸润深度及有无淋巴结转移有关,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);而与患者病理类型不相关(P>0.05);(3)子宫内膜癌组织uPA与uPAR的表达呈正相关(r=0.389,P<0.05);uPA与p38的表达也呈明显正相关(r=0.353,P<0.05)。结论:uPA与uPAR在子宫内膜癌发生发展侵袭转移过程中起着协同作用,p38MAPK信号通路在此过程中可能参与调节uPA,促进癌细胞浸润转移,因此uPA、uPAR、p38可能成为推测子宫内膜癌预后的重要参考指标。     

尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活因子介导的卵巢上皮癌细胞浸润转移体外的实验研究

目地:探讨尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活因子在卵巢上皮癌浸润转移中的作用机制。方法:用RT-PCR技术从人卵巢上皮癌组织总RNA中逆转录uPA基因cDNA全长,克隆至pGEM-T Easy Vector,鉴定后与真核表达载体PCMV-HA连接,酶切及测序。用脂质体法将重组质粒DNA转染至SKOV3细胞。加压筛选并培养PCMV-HA-uPA及对照细胞。分别用RT-PCR和W estern blot方法检测转染前后SKOV3细胞uPA的表达。细胞增殖能力测定用四甲基偶氮唑蓝(MTT)法和集落形成实验,细胞周期测定用流式细胞仪法,细胞体外侵袭,迁移和黏附能力测定分别采用Matrigel Invasion,TranswellM igration和Adhersion Assay方法。结果:(1)uPA阳性表达能介导SKOV3细胞克隆形成,与对照组细胞的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);(2)uPA阳性表达能介导SKOV3细胞的细胞周期中S期比例增加,与对照组细胞的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);(3)uPA阳性表达介导SK-OV3细胞的体外侵袭,迁移和黏附能力均明显强于对照细胞株,差异有统计学意义(P=0.0002,<0.0001和0.0049)。结论:uPA通过促进肿瘤细胞侵袭,迁移和黏附能力在卵巢上皮癌浸润转移中起了重要作用。     

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt regulates the balance between plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and urokinase to promote migration of SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells

OBJECTIVES: Increased levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) are associated with shortened overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. Additionally, elevated levels of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a uPA inhibitor, have also been correlated with an unfavorable prognosis in ovarian cancer. Therefore, it is critical to understand the signaling pathways that regulate PAI-1 and uPA expression in cancer cell migration-invasion. METHODS: We studied the PI3K/Akt, Rho kinase/ROCK, p38 MAPK and MEK pathways and their modulation of PAI-1 and uPA expression and wound-induced cell migration in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells. The PI3K/Akt pathway was further examined using pharmacological inhibitors (LY294002 and wortmannin), Akt siRNA, constitutively active Akt adenovirus and treatment with IGF-1/insulin in the SKOV-3 cells. RESULTS: The PI3K/Akt pathway negatively regulates PAI-1 expression and positively correlates with migratory abilities and uPA expression in SKOV-3 cells. A reduction in active Akt results in an increase in PAI-1 expression coupled with a decrease in uPA expression to ultimately result in reduced cell migration and invasion. By contrast, an increase in Akt activity reduces PAI-1 expression and results in an increase in SKOV-3 wound-induced cell migration. Furthermore, IGF-1 and insulin stimulated SKOV-3 migration by altering the balance between uPA and PAI-1 to favor uPA, and the enhanced migration was attenuated by treatment with LY294002 indicating PI3K/Akt in this pathway. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest an overall ovarian tumor-protective role for PAI-1, and that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway regulates the ratio of PAI-1:uPA to either increase or decrease cell migration.     

Clinical significance of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in invasive cervical cancer of the uterus

The relationship between the level of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and pelvic lymph node metastasis was investigated in 20 patients with invasive cervical cancer of the uterus. Frozen sections from all surgical specimens were stained immunohistochemically by alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase method to detect uPA in cancer tissue. The concentration of uPA, determined immunologically, and the fibrinolytic activity were also examined in supernatants of homogenates of some cancer tissues. uPA was detected immunohistochemically in cancer cells of all specimens. A significant correlation was found between the extent of immunohistochemical staining for uPA and the concentration of uPA determined immunologically in cancer tissues (P less than 0.05). A positive correlation was also found between semiquantitative values determined by immunohistochemical staining for uPA and lymph node metastasis (P less than 0.05). Fibrinolytic activity in cancer tissues was confirmed by casein-plaque assay. These findings indicate that the pro-uPA/uPA contents in cervical cancer tissues are clinically useful for predicting the metastatic potential of these cancers to the pelvic lymph nodes.