Soluble Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor and Ferritin Concentration in Patients with Advanced Alimentary Tract Carcinoma. Relationship to Localization, Surgical Treatment and the Stage of the Disease – Preliminary Report

Abstract

Background. The urokinase plasminogen activation system is associated with metastatic potential of cancer in several tumors. Its specific membrane receptor (uPAR) is released from cancer cells and can be detected as the soluble fraction of the plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR). Ferritin (FRT) is a poor prognostic factor in various neoplasms. Objectives. We analyzed the serum concentrations of suPAR and FRT in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Tumor localization, stage of the disease, possibility of surgery and histopathological diagnosis were considered. Material and Methods. The analysis involved 48 patients (8 females/40 males) treated in the Department of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University. Thirty two patients had esophageal, 7-gastric, 9-colorectal cancer. Fifteen patients underwent resection surgery, 33 palliative therapy. The control comprised 10 healthy donors. The serum concentration of suPAR was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), expressed in pg/mL. Concentration of the serum FRT was detected using immunonephelometry method, expressed in µg/L. Results. Serum concentration of suPAR ranged from 1789 -7320, x = 3676.2, SD = 1042 and was significantly higher (p = 0.0002) than in the control group. In patients who underwent palliative therapy, the concentration of suPAR was significantly higher (p = 0.05) than in those after resection, also in patients with esophageal cancer compared to those with colorectal one (p = 0.02). Serum concentration of FRT in patients with gastrointestinal cancer was significantly higher than in control group. Serum FRT concentration was higher in patients with esophageal cancer compared to patients with gastric cancer (p = 0.05), in persons with IV compared to patients with I-III stage of the disease, patients who underwent palliative compared to surgical therapy. Conclusions. In patients with gastrointestinal cancer the level of suPAR is high, with highest values in advances disease with remote metastases. The FRT concentration is sensitive indicator of the disease process: its level is highest in pts with IV stage who underwent palliative therapy (Adv Clin Exp Med 2014, 23, 6, 959-967).

Inflammatory biomarkers and cancer: CRP and suPAR as markers of incident cancer in patients with serious nonspecific symptoms and signs of cancer

“…suPAR is the soluble form of uPAR which, in cancer, is expressed on cancer cells and stromal cells . Several studies show an association between suPAR and the presence and prognosis of different types of cancer as well as an increased risk of developing lung cancer in the general population …”

“…suPAR is the soluble form of uPAR which, in cancer, is expressed on cancer cells and stromal cells. [18][19][20] Several studies show an association between suPAR and the presence and prognosis of different types of cancer [21][22][23][24][25][26][27] as well as an increased risk of developing lung cancer in the general population. 28 Little is known as to how these biomarkers perform in a heterogeneous group of patients with diffuse and nonspecific symptoms.…”

High preoperative serum ferritin predicted poor prognosis in non-metastatic colorectal cancer

“…Serum ferritin levels became normal as tumors entered remission. Cancer patients with metastasis had higher serum ferritin than patients without metastasis and had lower serum ferritin after surgery 24. Nevertheless, the level of colon tissue ferritin was not related to the systemic parameters of iron metabolism 25.…”

Surgical treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a retrospective study of 104 cases

“…No study had reported that Fer is an independent risk factor for the survival of ICC patients. However, plasma Fer concentrations were reported to be closely related to the occurrence and development of HCC, breast cancer, and gastrointestinal tumors 7-9 . Additionally, some researchers posited that in male patients, excessively high or low preoperative Fer concentrations are an independent risk factor for hepatitis C in HCC 7 .…”