Co-expression of thymidine kinase and cathepsin D in 200 primary breast carcinomas

We assayed thymidine kinase (TK) and cathepsin D (Cath-D) in 200 breast car cinomas and we found that they were significantly correlated. This correlat ion was present in lymph node positive rumours. in G2 and G3, in T1 and in invasive ductal carcinomas. In addition, TK and Cath-D did not correlate wi th oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) status. We concl ude that the relationship between Cath-D and TK may indicate a tumour popul ation of high proliferation activity and invasiveness potential, related to a more aggressive phenotype. whose identification may be useful in definin g prognosis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.