Urokinase (u-PA) and the u-PA receptor. Modulation of in vitro invasiveness of human bladder cancer cell lines.
BACKGROUND: Urokinase (u-PA) and the u-PA receptor (u-PAR) influence tumor invasion and metastasis. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether u-PAR display in 4 human bladder cancer cell lines (RT4, 253J, EJ and T24) can be modulated with substances including phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, interferon gamma, epidermal growth factor, and transforming growth factor beta and to correlate changes with u-PAR expression with the ability of these cells to invade artificial basement membrane (Matrigel). METHODS: u-PAR display was determined using flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining with an anti-u-PAR monoclonal antibody (Mab3936). Matrigel invasion chamber assays were used to assess the invasive capacity of the cell lines. RESULTS: The T24, EJ and 253J cells expressed the u-PAR while the RT4 cells did not. The EJ cells (expressing the highest u-PA antigen levels and the u-PAR) invaded Matrigel. The T24 cells, which expressed the u-PAR but do not produce u-PA, invaded Matrigel only when pretreated with high molecular weight urokinase (HMW u-PA). HMW u-PA pretreatment of EJ and 253J cells also enhanced their invasive potential. Blocking u-PA/u-PAR attachment with an anti-u-PAR monoclonal antibody (Mab3936) inhibited invasion. Modulation of u-PAR expression on cell lines displaying the u-PAR directly affected in vitro invasiveness of the cell lines. The RT4 cells which lack the u-PAR were not invasive under conditions tested. Thus, bladder cancer cell lines require both u-PA and the u-PAR to invade Matrigel and modulation of u-PAR display directly affects their in vitro invasive capacity. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that bladder tumor cells produce u-PA and express the u-PAR and require both for in vitro invasion to occur. When bladder cancer cells express the u-PAR, invasiveness can be enhanced by exogenous u-PA and inhibited by anti-u-PAR antibodies. Modulation of u-PAR expression on the cell surface of bladder cancer cells can also affect their ability to invade Matrigel. IMPLICATIONS: Histologically similar bladder tumors show differences in their propensity to invade locally or metastasize. Intrinsic differences in the tumor cells such as the production of u-PA antigen and u-PA receptor on the cell surface and extrinsic differences in the tumor cell environment such as substances influencing u-PAR display or antibodies blocking the u-PAR may affect the biological potential of human bladder cancers and offer one explanation for the aggressive or indolent tumor behavior observed in individual patients.