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Cathepsin D in breast cancer

  • 12th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium — Plenary lecture
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Summary

Cathepsin D is an acidic lysosomal protease present in all cells. In estrogen receptor positive and negative breast cancer cell lines, the mRNA coding for pro-cathepsin D is overexpressed and sorting and maturation of the pro-enzyme are altered, leading to accumulation of the active proteinase in large endosomes and to secretion of the precursor (52K protein). In MCF7 cells, the cathepsin D mRNA is induced directly and transcriptionally by estrogens and indirectly by growth factors.In vitro, pro-cathepsin D is an autocrine mitogen on breast cancer cells and can be auto-activated to degrade extracellular matrix and proteoglycans and to activate other proteinases in acidic microenvironments. In patients, there is a significant correlation between high cathepsin D concentrations in the cytosol of primary breast cancer and development of metastasis. This marker is independent of other prognostic factors and appears to be particularly useful in lymph node-negative tumors. These results suggest that overexpression and possible derouting of cathepsin D plays an important role in invasion and metastasis of breast cancer.

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  1. Unité Hormones et Cancer (U 148) INSERM, University of Montpellier 1, 60, rue de Navacelles, 34090, Montpellier, France

    Henri Rochefort

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Rochefort, H. Cathepsin D in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Tr 16, 3–13 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01806570

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