Abstract
The prognostic and/or predictive value of the cancer biomarkers, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitor (plasminogen activator inhibitor [PAI]-1), determined by ELISA in tumor-tissue extracts, was demonstrated for several cancer types in numerous clinically relevant retrospective or prospective studies, including a multicenter breast cancer therapy trial (Chemo-N0). Consequently, for the first time ever for any cancer biomarker for breast cancer, uPA and PAI-1 have reached the highest level of evidence, level-of-evidence-1. At present, two other breast cancer therapy trials, NNBC-3 and Plan B, also incorporating uPA and PAI-1 as treatment-assignment tools are in effect. Furthermore, small synthetic molecules targeting uPA are currently in Phase II clinical trials in patients afflicted with advanced cancer of the ovary, breast or pancreas.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 8 |
Pages (from-to) | 1051-1067 |
Number of pages | 17 |
ISSN | 1473-7159 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2010 |