THE PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF CATHEPSIN-D IN BREAST CARCINOMAS - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Cathepsin D, a lysosomal protease, was examined by immunohistochemistr y in 481 breast carcinomas. The immunoreactivity for cathepsin D was r egistered in the tumour cells, in the surrounding stroma, and in the m acrophages and correlated with clinicopathological parameters. In univ ariate analysis of survival data, less than 25% positive tumour cells, any positivity in the stroma, and moderate or strong positivity in th e macrophages were poor prognostic parameters. In multivariate analysi s, all three parameters were of independent prognostic significance; t herefore a cathepsin D index was constructed. In multivariate analysis the cathepsin D index was also found to be of independent poor progno stic significance both in patients with and without lymph node metasta ses. Progesterone receptor status was an independent prognostic parame ter in patients with lymph node metastases. From the present study we concluded that the cathepsin D index was a independent poor prognostic parameter.