title: Immunohistochemical detection of cathepsin D in low grade breast invasive cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cathepsin D (CatD) can facilitate the invasive behaviour of breast cancer cells and thus plays a key role in the mechanism of invasion and metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of the protease CatD was evaluated using an immunohistochemical technique with a polyclonal antibody on paraffin-embedded tissue from 80 women treated for invasive ductal mammary carcinoma not otherwise specified (NOS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty seven tumours (46%) showed prominent staining of cells in the tumour. Neoplastic cell staining for CatD correlated with axillary nodal involvement (p < 0.05), high oestrogen receptor positivity status (p < 0.01) and low or moderate tumour grade (p < 0.05). Stromal cell (primarily histiocyte) CatD immunostaining was frequently noticed and was proportional to the degree of the intratumoural inflammatory infiltrate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cat D detection in neoplastic cells is likely to be involved in the invasive capability of well differentiated breast cancer cells, but it may simultaneously reflect the functional integrity of the oestrogen response pathway, commonly observed in well-differentiated tumours.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Medical School of Athens University, Greece.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lazaris
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulos
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Diamantopoulos
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Anastassopoulos
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Davaris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002402:Cathepsin D