Immunohistochemical evaluation of Cathepsin D expression in colorectal tumours: A correlation with extracellular matrix components, p53, pRb, bcl-2, c-erbB-2, EGFR and proliferation indices

The immunohistochemical Cathepsin D (CD) expression of tumour and stromal c ells was investigated in a series of 93 human colorectal adenocarcinomas an d 22 adenomas with the intention to evaluate its prognostic significance an d its contribution in the metastatic potential of colorectal cancer. CD exp ression was correlated with the expression of extracellular matrix componen ts (collagen, type IV, laminin and fibronectin), p53 protein, pRb, bcl-2, c -erbB-2, EGFR, proliferation indices (Ki-67, PCNA) as well as with other co nventional clinicopathological features. CD expression (>10% of positive tu mour cells) was observed in 60.2% of carcinomas and in 72.7% of adenomas. S tromal Cn expression was detected in all cases. A statistically significant positive correlation between neoplastic cells CD and stromal cells CD (SCC D) was observed in both carcinomas and adenomas. Cancer cells CD (CCCD) was positively correlated with collagen type IV and pRb expression as well as with PCNA score. In carcinomas, SCCD expression was statistically correlate d with p53 protein and pRb expression and a trend for correlation with PCNA score was found. These data suggest that Cathepsin D of cancer and stromal cells, especially in combination with other markers, may provide more info rmation about the biological behaviour of colorectal cancer.