The Role of Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor in Human Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma
By:
Published on 2008 by ProQuest
The urokinase plasminogen activator pathway has been shown to significantly influence many forms of cancer. The components of this pathway including urokinase plasminogen activator, u-PA, and its receptor, u-PAR, play an important role in the pathogenesis of cancer as well as the migration of malignant cells. Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer and once diagnosed is usually fatal within 12 to 15 months. We hypothesized that by suppressing the signaling and matrix remodeling caused by the urokinase plasminogen activator pathway, the tumor burden created by malignant mesothelioma could be greatly reduced. An antibody to u-PAR, ATN-658, was tested for its ability to inhibit tumor growth in an in vivo model of malignant mesothelioma in nude, athymic mice. The mice received three different malignant mesothelioma cell lines by intrapleural injection and then the tumors were treated with the ATN-658, pemetrexed, a common chemotherapy drug, or the two in combination. Using several different assessments of tumor growth, we found that the antibody had no significant effect on the tumor burden in mice.
This Book was ranked 40 by Google Books for keyword Mesothelioma therapy.
