uPAR, beyond regulating physiological functions, has orchestrated roles in cancer (Review)
Liang Wang, Xite Lin, Pengming Sun
Abstract
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) serves as the receptor for uPA and the uPA-uPAR complex initiates the extracellular matrix degradation cascade. In cancer, aberrantly elevated uPAR expression is associated with invasion and metastasis, as well as cancer proliferation and survival, thereby rendering uPAR an effective marker for prognosis and a target for therapy. Although uPAR is transiently expressed at limited amounts in normal tissues and certain non-cancer pathological processes, their underlying mechanisms do not overlap with those of tumorigenesis. The present review summarized the fundamental function, signaling pathways and targeted therapeutic strategies, particularly immunotherapy targeting uPAR, as well as its differential roles in non-cancer and cancer tissues, to objectively evaluate whether this classic molecular pathway is of enduring research value for future study. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Structure and function of uPAR and uPA in the plasminogen activator system 3. Roles of uPAR in normal physiological functions 4. Pathological function of uPAR in cancer 5. Pathological function of uPAR in gynecological and female breast cancers 6. Targeted therapy of uPAR implemented with both promise and limitations 7. Conclusion