Urokinase inhibitor in patients with bladder cancer

Summary Plasma and tissue inhibitory activities were measured by the fibrin plate method in 33 plasma samples and 25 cancerous tissue specimens from 48 patients with bladder cancer, and were compared with those of normal plasma and bladder tissues, respectively. Both the inhibitory activities were significantly higher in the patients than in normal subjects. In addition, they were significantly higher in patients with cancer of high grades (Grades 2, 3 and 4) and high stages (Stages B, C and D) than in those with cancer of low grade (Grade 1) and low stage (Stage A), respectively. A significant decrease of plasma urokinase inhibitory activity was observed in blood samples obtained 3 weeks after surgical excision of the tumor as compared with that measured before the operation. The physiologic and clinical significances of these findings are discussed.This investigation was supported in part by a grant-in-aid (#757181) for Miscellaneous Research from the Ministry of Education.