Comparison of the immunohistochemical localisation of urokinase in normal and cancerous human colon tissue

Abstract

The localisation of the plasminogen activator, urokinase was compared in normal human colon mucosa and colon cancer by immunoperoxidase staining, using a monospecific goat antibody against human urinary urokinase of Mr 55 000. Specific staining in the normal colon mucosa was observed only in the goblet cells, some of which could be seen to empty their granular contents into the crypts. No staining was observed in the normal glands either at the luminal, or at the basal pole of the cells, locations characteristic of colon cancer cells, as shown here and earlier. 20 Treatment of paraffin sections with 0.1% Triton X-100, or 0.1% trypsin prior to reaction with the primary antibody, considerably intensifies the colour response in both normal and cancerous cells.