[Effect of hypoxia on the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells (Tca8113)].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in human tongue squamous carcinoma cells (Tca8113) under hypoxia, in order to explore the relation between hypoxia and invasion and metastasis of oral cancer. METHODS: Under different hypoxic times(0, 3, 6, 12, 24 h), the expression of uPA protein was examined quantitatively using immunohistochemical technique (IH) and flow cytometry (FCM). RESULTS: Hypoxia promoted the expression of uPA. The longer hypoxic time was, the higher expression of uPA was. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia can promote invasion and metastasis of oral squamous carcinoma through stimulating the expression of uPA.