Abstract

BACKGROUND
It is known that cathepsin D expression in host stromal cells is associated with a more aggressive tumor behavior in breast cancers.
METHODS
Cathepsin D expression was examined in 222 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma (CA) and 25 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) by the immunohistochemical staining. Cathepsin D expression was evaluated according to the expression site, either in the tumor cells (CD-T) or in the stromal cells (CD-S), and graded according to the immunopositivity. The differences of CD-T and CD-S in each case were evaluated according to the pathologic parameters and estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) status.
RESULTS
The rate of CD-S was significantly higher in the CA than in the DCIS (p<0.0001). In the CA, the rate of CD-S was higher than that of CD-T, while in the DCIS, the rate of CD-T was higher than that of CD-S. In the CA, the rate of CD-S and the tumor grade showed a positive relationship (p=0.0281). There were positive correlations between the ER positivity and CD-S (p=0.0236), and between the PR positivity and CD-T (p=0.0246). For the DCIS, no significant relationships were noted between the pathologic parameters including ER/PR status and CD-T/CD-S.
CONCLUSION
Cathepsin D expression in the stromal cells seems to be related to the invasiveness and aggressive biological behavior in breast cancers. In addition, there might be some relationship betweeen the ER positivity and CD-S, and between the PR positivity and CD-T.

• Keywords: Cathepsin D;Estrogen receptor;Progesteron receptor;Breast cancer