Relation of cathepsin D level to the estrogen receptor in human breast cancer

Abstract

Seventy-three primary human breast cancers were analyzed to assess the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors, the p29 protein, and the total cathepsin D status. No significant relationship was found between cathepsin D concentration and the presence of ER or PR, either by Fisher's exact test or Spearman's rank correlation (P greater than 0.1). However, a significant association was found between cathepsin D and p29 (Fisher's exact test, P less than 0.001) and between cathepsin D and steroid receptor status in samples expressing both estrogen and progesterone receptors (positive by steroid binding assay and enzyme immunoassay) (P less than 0.05). This association was more significant in tissues expressing estrogen and progesterone receptors as well as p29 (P less than 0.001). In contrast, cathepsin D synthesis was not related to tumor size, lymph node involvement, or patient's age (P greater than 0.05). Steroid receptors and cathepsin D were also assayed in samples of non-malignant tissue from 16 mastectomies; there was a significantly higher relative concentration of cathepsin D in the malignant specimens (Student's t-test, P less than 0.001).

Prognostic significance of tumor-related proteases as a function of the estrogen receptor status

“…5,24 Combining prognostic markers appears to be more efficient than evaluating them separately. 25,26 The correlation between proteases and steroid receptors has previously been investigated 24,27,28 and the relationship between these different proteases and the prognosis has been evaluated. 29 However, no study has investigated the prognostic significance of these factors in relation to the quantitative expression of steroid receptors.…”

Immunoradiometric detection of pS2 and total cathepsin D in primary breast cancer biopsies: their correlation with steroid receptors

“…Nevertheless, pS2 shows a high degree of homology with the two insulin-like growth factors, IGFI and IGFII (Rio et al, 1988b); interestingly, cathepsin D can bind to the IGFII receptor, modulating its growth stimulatory action (Mathieu et al, 1990 Immunoradiometric assay ofpS2 and cathepsin D pS2 and total cathepsin D assay were performed by solidphase two-site immunoradiometric assays according to the instructions provided with the CIS Biointernational Kits (Gif-Sur-Yvette, France). Both systems have been validated by others (Garcia et al, 1985;Goussard et al, 1991) and used for pS2 and total cathepsin D assay by many research groups (Spyratos et al, 1989;Brouillet et al, 1990;Goussard et al, 1991;Marsigliante et al, 1992).…”

Correlationship of Cathepsin D and Topoisomerase Ii Alpha With Nuclear Grading in Breast Cancers

“…Abnormally high levels of cathepsin D as detected by cytosol assays have been reported in various human cancers, this overexpression is believed to increase the metastatic potential of tumours [8,9]. However, few breast cancer studies showed inconsistent results as they were being done by cytosol assay [10,11]. We came across a study recently [2] where tHC technique was used and they showed a good correlation of stromal cell staining with higher nuclear grades than compared to positive staining of the tumour cells.…”