Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) antibodies. The invention also relates to antibodies that are capable of binding uPA and which are capable of reducing or inhibiting uPA activity. Furthermore, the invention relates to uses for such antibodies, such as therapeutic and pharmaceutical uses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving cancer therapy that relies on induction of apoptosis in malignant cells. It has been found that docking of protease inhibitors PAI-1 and TIMP-1 renders malignant cells expressing these inhibitors more sensitive to apoptosis, whereas non-malignant cells do not change their sensitivity to apoptosis induction. It is therefore possible to increase the effect of various anti-cancer treatments in a rational manner and to predict whether or not an apoptosis-inducing cancer treatment will be effective in a patient or not. The invention also provides for methods of identifying agents that inhibit the apoptosis sensitivity modulating effects of protease inhibitors and to methods of identifying anti-cancer compounds that are not dependent on an apoptosis inducing mechanism which can be modulated by protease inhibitors.