Immunohistochemical analysis of cathepsin D in prostate carcinoma.
Cathepsin D is a carboxyl protease that has been implicated as an important factor in tumor cell invasion. Sixty-nine cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the prostate were studied by the indirect immunoperoxidase method using a primary monoclonal anti-cathepsin D antibody. Immunoreactivity was graded from 0 (negative) to 4+ (intense reaction). The normal tubuloalveolar glands were, in general, negative. However, nine cases revealed focal staining of nonneoplastic luminal cells. Basal cells were negative except in areas of basal-cell hyperplasia, which were intensely positive. Thirty-nine of 78 carcinoma samples revealed 2+ or greater positive punctate lysosomal staining. In the 39 positive-stained cases, the reactivity was diffuse in three and focal in the remainder. The percentage of carcinoma cases whose worst lesions stained 2+ or greater showed a nonsignificant (P = 0.055) relation to Gleason grade but a significant (P = 0.031) relationship to pathologic stage. Thus, cathepsin D may prove to be a useful marker of prostate cancer progression.
Makar
R
R
Department of Pathology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson.
Mason
A
A
Kittelson
J M
JM
Bowden
G T
GT
Cress
A E
AE
Nagle
R B
RB
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002402:Cathepsin D