Urokinase-like plasminogen activator as a marker of endometrial neoplasia

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Abstract
Urokinase-like plasminogen activator (ULPA) was determined with a radioimmunoassay in uterine aspirates from 67 patients prior to curettage. In women with normal endometrial histology the mean concentration of ULPA was 5.4 ± 2.5 m̈g per liter. Only one of this aspirates contained more than 8 m̈g per liter. In cases with malignant histology ULPA was above this level in 10 of 11 with a mean concentration of 31.2 ± 31.4 m̈g per liter. In cases with glandular cystic hyperplasia and/or adenomatous hyperplasia 6 of 15 had values above 8 m̈g per liter with a mean of 10.3 ± 6.1 m̈g per liter. In addition to other parameters of malignancy such as cytology, detection of ULPA in uterine fluid might prove useful in screening examinations for endometrial neoplasia.