CATHEPSIN-D SERUM MASS CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA AND OR LIVER-CIRRHOSIS/

Cathepsin D serum mass concentrations were determined by enzyme immuno assay in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 51) and/or liver cirrhosis (n = 92) or benign steatosis (n = 16) and correlated with so me biochemical and clinical properties of these diseases. Increased ca thepsin D serum mass concentrations (P < 0.001) were observed in all t hese groups of patients as compared to normal subjects (n = 98). Howev er, patients with steatosis had serum mass concentrations of this enzy me significantly lower (mean 2-3 fold) than those measured in cancer p atients (P < 0.05) or cirrhotic patients (P < 0.001). Interestingly, s ignificantly higher cathepsin D serum mass concentrations (mean + 62%) (P < 0.006) were determined in the cirrhosis group as compared to can cer patients. No correlation between cathepsin D and a number of clini cal and biochemical properties examined, namely, cr-foetoprotein, numb er of neoplastic lesions and tumour size in cancer patients or, Child- Pugh grade of severity of cirrhosis and other enzymes of liver functio n tests in the cirrhotic group was found. The present data and those f rom other studies which indicate that cathepsin D may be involved in c arcinogenesis suggest that this enzyme may be potentially useful as an additional biochemical marker to identify cirrhotic patients who may develop precancerous hepatic nodules.