EVALUATION OF CATHEPSIN-D AS PROGNOSTIC PREDICTOR IN BREAST-CANCER

Cathepsin D is an acidic lysosomal protease expressed in all cells. So me studies have shown correlations between high levels of tissue cathe psin D and poor prognosis. This paper deals with 158 cases of breast c ancer in which tissue concentrations in cathepsin D, age, estrogen and progesterone receptor content, and pathological characteristics of th e tumor were investigated. Tumors were considered to be cathepsin D+ w hen a concentration >40 pmol/mg protein (median value in our samples) was determined. The expression of cathepsin D appears to be related to grading (p = 0.04) and lymph node status (p = 0.05). We found no sign ificant associations among cathepsin D levels, patient age, steroid re ceptors and histological type. Moreover, the levels of cathepsin D hav e been evaluated in 9 samples of recurring or metastatic neoplasia and 11 cases of benign breast lesions. We conclude that cathepsin D may b e a useful prognostic predictor in breast cancer. Further investigatio ns are required to improve and extend the applications of this assay.