Expression and Prognosis for PA system in Human Ovarian Cancer

Abstract The plasminogen activator (PA) system is a protease hydrolysis system involved in many physiological processes. The PA system consists of four components, namely a urokinase-type plasminogen activator PLAU, its receptor PLAUR, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and − 2 (PAI-1 and PAI-2). It has been found that the combination of PLAU and PLAUR effectively triggers a series of proteolytic cascades to degrade extracellular matrix components. In recent years, studies have found that the PA system has different functional roles in the development of various tumors. The PA system is differentially expressed in various tumors, including ovarian cancer (OV). However, the specific role and prognosis of the PA system in ovarian cancer remain unclear. In this study, we combined multiple databases to evaluate how the PA system affects the occurrence and progression of OV and predict its prognostic value. In addition, we also investigated the function of the PA system and the relationship between the differential expression of PA members and the level of OV immune infiltration. Correlation analysis was also performed on the current "FDA approved" and "clinical trial" drugs and molecular compounds. The results showed that the differential expression of each component of the PA system was significantly associated with the poor prognosis of OV and was enriched in multiple oncogenic signaling pathways that promote the occurrence, development, and metastasis of the disease. In conclusion, the PA system could be as a detection biomarker and potential therapeutic targets for patients with OV.