Study of uPA and uPAR Protein Expression and Prognostic Factors in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated by Radiotherapy

Objective To explore the relationship between the uPA,uPAR protein expression and the prognostic with clinical and pathologic factors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated by radiotherapy. Methods We measured uPA,uPAR protein expression in 59 specimens of esophageal carcinoma and 41 peri-carcinoma tissues with immunohistochemistry,and analyzed the relationship between these protein expression and the clinicopathological parameters,and explored the prognostic factors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated by radiotherapy alone. Results The positive rates of expression of uPA in specimens of esophageal carcinoma and the peri-carcinoma tissues were 76.27% and 48.78% respectively,and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.01).The rates of positive expression of uPAR in specimens of esophageal carcinoma and the peri-carcinoma tissues were 77.97% and 43.90% respectively,and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.01).The expression of uPA was significantly correlated with the status of fat interspace between the esophageal lesion and vertebrae in the CT scanning.The rates of strong positive expression was 43.75% in which the fat interspace existed,while it was 70.37% with the fat interspace elapsed,and there were statistical significance (P=0.040).The rates of positive expression was 100% with distant metastasis patients,while it was 68.89% in those without distant metastasis,this difference had statistical significance (P=0.042).The protein expression of uPA and uPAR did not significantly effect on prognosis and the short-term result of esophageal carcinoma. Conclusion Maybe the protein expression of uPA,uPAR were correlated with the local invasion and distant metastasis of the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.