Expression of cathepsin D in malignant and in the corresponding non-malignant node-negative laryngeal samples: correlation with receptors for androgen, glucocorticoid, oestrogen and progesterone.
A standard immunoradiometric technique was used to investigate the distribution of the intracellular aspartic proteinase cathepsin D in 33 malignant and in the corresponding histologically-proven non-malignant fragments obtained from lymph node negative patients suffering from larynx cancer. In both tissues the androgen, glucocorticoid, oestrogen and progesterone receptors were also assayed. Our data indicate that cathepsin D was present in both tissues, with level significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the cancerous fragments (with a mean of 33 +/- 3.4 pmol/mg protein) than in the corresponding non-cancerous specimen (with a mean of 20.8 +/- 2 pmol/mg protein). A significant positive association (P < 0.001) between cathepsin D and PR concentration values in the cancerous larynx was observed; accordingly, tumours expressing PR had significantly (P = 0.0005) higher cathepsin D levels than the tumours which did not contain the receptor. In contrast, such a relationship was absent in the non-malignant specimens. As regards the other steroid receptors, no significant relationship between them and cathepsin D was observed. We conclude that cathepsin D may have a role also in laryngeal carcinoma and that its association with the PR could indicate a possible role of the receptor in the biology of this disease.
Marsigliante
S
S
Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Lecce, Italy.
Resta
L
L
Leo
G
G
Mazzotta
D
D
d'Amore
R
R
Biscozzo
L
L
Storelli
C
C
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism*
D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D002402:Cathepsin D