Luigi Frigerio

Gynecol. Oncol. 72, 490-491, 1999
(In coll. con G.Aletti, A.Mariani, CFS.Siers, M.Bassan, G.Aletti, F.Blasi, E.Rabaiotti, AG.Ferrari)
The urokinase-type-plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a cell-membrane glycoprotein that is involved in carcinogenesis. We analyzed 143 patients with pelvic disease, operated at S.Raphael Hospital between Nov.1994 and May 1996. Forty patients had ovarian cancer, 7 patients had borderline ovarian tumor, and 16 patients had other malignant pelvic disease. Preoperative serum samples were analyzed for the levels of Ca.125 and suPAR(ELISA). SuPAR preoperative levels in patients with ovarian cancer were significantly higher than in patients with benign cysts (P<0.001). Disease-free survival was significantly higher in patients with low preoperative suPAR  levels when compared to patients with high preoperative suPAR levels (P=0.01). Patients with high preoperative levels of both CA.125 and suPAR had significantly lower disease-free-survival when compared to the other patients (P<0.0001). SuPAR preoperative levels may help the clinician in distinguishing patients with benign and malignant pelvic disease. Moreover, suPAR levels may be useful in predicting the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer.