Overexpression of Urinary Plasminogen Activator (uPA) Protein and mRNA in Thyroid Carcinogenesis

Abstract

uPA is expressed in thyroid carcinoma but not in benign adenomas or normal adjacent follicles. The selective expression of uPA in thyroid carcinoma provides evidence that uPA is useful in distinguishing benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms. More importantly, uPA may represent molecular target for therapeutic treatment of this malignancy.