title: [The prognostic significance of cathepsin D in primary breast cancer].
abstract: The prognostic significance of the lysosomal protease cathepsin D in breast cancer was evaluated in a retrospective study. Cathepsin D was measured in 346 deep-frozen (-70 degrees C) cytosol specimens of primary breast carcinomas (1982-1990). Among the established prognostic factors, only axillary lymph node involvement correlated with the expression of cathepsin D (> 40/60 pmol/mg) (p = 0.04-0.05). Univariate analyses of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) showed, that the expression of cathepsin D had no effect on the prognosis either in the whole population of breast cancer patients during long-term follow-up (n = 302; median observation time 51 months) or in the group of women with positive lymph nodes (n = 157; 46 months). However, within the group of N0 patients (n = 145; 57 months), high cathepsin D levels were associated with an unfavourable OS, but this relationship was statistically insignificant (p = 0.08-0.13). A similar influence of cathepsin D on DFS could not be demonstrated. Compared to tumour size, grading and receptor status in multivariate analysis, cathepsin D was a more indicative, but finally insignificant prognostic factor for OS. According to these results, cathepsin D may contribute only in combination with other prognostic factors to identify those 20-30% of node-negative patients with unfavourable prognosis, who may benefit from adjuvant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Universität zu Köln.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crombach
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ingenhorst
authors.forename: U J
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Göhring
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scharl
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stützer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D002402:Cathepsin D
vernacular_title: Prognostische Bedeutung von Kathepsin D beim primären Mammakarzinom.