Relationship between Cathepsin D Expression and Other Prognostic Factors in Primary Breast Cancer.
- Author:
Woo Jin CHUNG
1
;
Dong Eun PARK
;
Kwang Man LEE
;
Kwon Mook CHAE
;
Ki Jung YOON
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cathepsin D;
Prognostic factors in breast cancer
- MeSH:
Breast Neoplasms*;
Breast*;
Cathepsin D*;
Cathepsins*;
Humans;
Immunohistochemistry;
Lymph Nodes;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Prognosis
- From:Journal of the Korean Surgical Society
2001;60(4):368-374
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Cathepsin D, a lysosomal protease has been proposed to play a role in the local invasion and metastatic dissemination in primary breast cancer. Although there are many conflicting results, the overexpression of cathepsin D has been considered to be related with a poorer prognosis of breast cancer. This study was designed to verify whether cathepsin D expression is related to other prognostic factors in breast cancer. METHODS: Cathepsin D was assessed by immunohistochemistry using murine monoclonal anti-cathepsin D antibody (ZyMED) in 79 paraffin-embedded primary breast cancer specimens. Cathepsin D expression was compared to other prognostic parameters such as tumor size, axillary lymph node metastasis, tumor histologic grades, hormone receptors (ER & PR), p53, c-erb B2, Ki-67, MVD (microvessel density), and Pgp (P-glycoprotein). RESULTS: A high-expression of cathepsin D was found in 35 of 79 patients (44.3%) with primary breast cancer. Cathepsin D expression was not related to tumor size, axillary lymph node metastasis, tumor histologic grades, hormone receptors, p53, Ki-67, or CD31. However, a significant relationship was found between cathepsin D expression and c-erb B2 (p=0.007), and between cathepsin D expression and Pgp (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that cathepsin D expression may be an indicator of a poor prognosis in breast cancer. However, further studies are required to verify the exact role of cathepsin D in the prognosis of breast cancer.
