Expression of Cathepsin-D in Primary Breast Cancer and Corresponding Local Recurrence or Metastasis: An Immunohistochemical Study

• Published in: Anticancer research Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 901 - 905
• Main Authors: DIAN, D, VREKOUSSIS, T, SHABANI, N, MYLONAS, I, KUHN, C, SCHINDLBECK, C, NAVROZOGLOU, I, FRIESE, K, MAKRIGIANNAKIS, A, JESCHKE, U
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Attiki International Institute of Anticancer Research 01.03.2012
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - enzymology; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cathepsin D - metabolism; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Tumors; Immunohistochemistry; Relapse; Breast disease; Enzyme; Breast cancer; Malignant tumor; Metastasis; Mammary gland diseases; Peptidases; Anatomic pathology; Cancerology; Cathepsin-D; Hydrolases; Aspartic endopeptidases; Cathepsin D; local recurrence; Cancer; Primary cancer
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

The role of cathepsin-D is well established in breast cancer progression, being correlated with worse clinical outcomes. However, to our knowledge, no study has been performed investigating its expression in primary breast cancer tumors and their corresponding recurrences or metastasis. Tissue sections from ten breast cancer cases and their corresponding local recurrences and six breast cancer cases and their corresponding metastases were immunohistochemically assessed for cathepsin-D reactivity. Cases diagnosed as either ductal carcinoma in situ (n=7), or breast carcinoma with no evidence of local recurrence or metastasis during follow-up (n=8) served as controls. Cathepsin-D was significantly up-regulated in all the study groups compared to controls. No difference was found between primary tumors and their corresponding recurrences or metastases. Cathepsin-D-expressing breast cancer cells seem to be involved in local recurrence or metastasis formation. Large series are needed to further verify this result with the aim of possible future molecular intervention.