Relation between cathepsin D expression and other prognostic factors in breast carcinomas.
We evaluated cathepsin D concentrations in 318 breast carcinoma specimens with a standardized IRMA and established distribution values of 5.9-217.8 nmol/g (median 51.8). Concentrations of cathepsin D did not correlate with age or with concentrations of HER-2/neu oncoprotein, estrogen receptor, or epidermal growth factor receptors. A significant correlation was observed between cathepsin D and progestin receptor (P = 0.009), but only in postmenopausal patients. In our role as a National Reference Laboratory for conducting interlaboratory comparisons of tumor markers, we evaluated cathepsin D assay proficiency by using control samples with intra- and interassay CVs of 2-8% and 10-13%, respectively. Human reference specimens containing known quantities of cathepsin D were developed to facilitate standardized testing. The IRMA procedure and the use of quality-assurance samples permits evaluation of the clinical significance of cathepsin D in human breast cancer trials.
Shaheen
R M
RM
Department of Biochemistry, University of Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
Miseljic
S
S
Wiehle
R D
RD
Wittliff
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000032:analysis*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D011786:Quality Control; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002402:Cathepsin D; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone