Evaluation of Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor, Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor, and β1 Integrin in Patients with Hodgkin's Lymphoma

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to indicate the role of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), soluble uPAR (suPAR), and β1 integrin in tumor growth and invasion of lymph nodes from Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 25 lymph nodes from HL patients were analyzed for the expression of β1 integrin and uPAR on mononuclear cells using two-color flow cytometry and immunohistochemical analysis. Moreover, the levels of suPAR in the serum samples of HL patients were measured and compared with 32 healthy controls. RESULTS: Flowcytometry and immunohistochemical results indicated no significant association of uPAR expression with tumor size, different stages, or different histological subtypes of HL; however, an increased expression of β1 integrin was detected in the advanced stages of HL. Higher expression of β1 integrin was detected in nodular sclerosis compared to lymphocyte predominant. No significant difference was observed between the serum levels of suPAR in patients with different stages of HL and healthy controls. Moreover, the levels of suPAR were significantly higher in nodular sclerosis in comparison with other subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the levels of suPAR and β1 integrin varied between different histological subtypes of HL. Although uPAR may play only a minor role in the growth and metastasis of lymphoma, β1 integrin may be important in predicting prognosis and metastasis in HL.