J Korean Breast Cancer Soc.  2001 Dec;4(2):172-178. 10.4048/jkbcs.2001.4.2.172.

Relationship between Cathepsin D Expression and Other Prognostic Factors in Primary Breast Cancer

• Chung WJ
• Park DE
• Lee KM
• Chae KM
• Yoon KJ

• KMID: 2173601
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4048/jkbcs.2001.4.2.172

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 xact role of cathepsin D in the prognosis of breast cancer.

Keyword

Cathepsin D; Prognostic factors in breast cancer

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Cathepsin D*
Cathepsins*
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prognosis
Cathepsin D
Cathepsins