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Cathepsin D in primary breast carcinoma: Adverse prognosis is associated with expression of cathepsin D in stromal cells

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Summary

The immunohistochemical expression of the aspartyl protease enzyme cathepsin D was examined in a consecutive series of 103 primary operable breast carcinomas with the polyclonal antibody NCL-CDp. Expression of cathepsin D was identified within the epithelial and stromal components of all tumours examined. No significant associations of increased cathepsin D expression in the epithelial tumour component with conventional prognostic indices such as tumour size, grade, lymph node stage, or patient survival were identified. However, significant associations of increased stromal cathepsin D expression and high tumour grade,χ 2 = 11.40 (df = 2), p = 0.003; increased tendency to local recurrence,χ 2 = 6.87 (df = 1), p = 0.009; regional recurrence,χ 2 = 7.44 (df = 1), p = 0.006; poorer disease free survival,χ 2 = 14.9 (df = 1), p = 0.0001; and poorer overall patient survival,χ 2 = 6.90 (df = 1), p = 0.0086, were identified. Cathepsin D expression is present in all breast tumours. Stromal cathepsin D expression is a neglected immunohistochemical prognostic parameter which could explain some of the previous apparently conflicting reports concerning the effect on patient prognosis of biochemical (i.e. total) and immunohistochemical estimations of cathepsin D in breast cancers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histopathology, City Hospital, NG51PB, Nottingham, United Kingdom

    A. E. M. A. O'Donoghue, D. N. Poller, M. H. Galea, C. W. Elston & I. O. Ellis

  2. University Department of Surgery, City Hospital, NG51PB, Nottingham, United Kingdom

    J. A. Bell & R. W. Blamey

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  1. A. E. M. A. O'Donoghue
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  2. D. N. Poller
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  3. J. A. Bell
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  4. M. H. Galea
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  5. C. W. Elston
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  6. R. W. Blamey
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  7. I. O. Ellis
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O'Donoghue, A.E.M.A., Poller, D.N., Bell, J.A. et al. Cathepsin D in primary breast carcinoma: Adverse prognosis is associated with expression of cathepsin D in stromal cells. Breast Cancer Res Tr 33, 137–145 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00682721

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