Expression of cathepsin L in normal endometrium and endometrial cancer

Objective: To evaluate the expression of cathepsin L in normal endometrium and endometrial adenocarcinoma. Study Design: Tissue from eight cases of GI and eight of G2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma. and 15 normal endometrial spe cimens were examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: In the normal endome trium. cathepsin L was expressed in a few cell layers of the apical part of the glandular epithelium throughout the menstrual cycle. In the carcinomas , there was an inverse correlation between the grade of tumor and the cathe psin L expression. Conclusion: Cathepsin L expression may cease during endo metrial carcinogenesis and its expression may be less important in tumor pr ogression than it is in tumors of other tissues. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.