HGF and non-small cell lung carcinoma: For example, plasmin has been shown to induce the proteolytic activation of metalloproteases-2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9).21 Moreover, uPAS triggers the proteolytic activation of growth factors, including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), to promote malignancy.22–24 The expression levels of uPA and uPAR are up-regulated in NSCLC compared to normal tissues.25,26 The recent meta-analysis of clinical patients’ archival specimens have also suggested that uPA/uPAR are clinical biomarkers for NSCLC.27