title: Immunohistochemical evaluation of cathepsin D expression in colorectal tumours: a correlation with extracellular matrix components, p53, pRb, bcl-2, c-erbB-2, EGFR and proliferation indices.
abstract: The immunohistochemical Cathepsin D (CD) expression of tumour and stromal cells was investigated in a series of 93 human colorectal adenocarcinomas and 22 adenomas with the intention to evaluate its prognostic significance and its contribution in the metastatic potential of colorectal cancer. CD expression was correlated with the expression of extracellular matrix components (collagen type IV, laminin and fibronectin), p53 protein, pRb, bcl-2, c-erbB-2, EGFR, proliferation indices (Ki-67, PCNA) as well as with other conventional clinicopathological features. CD expression (> 10% of positive tumour cells) was observed in 60.2% of carcinomas and in 72.7% of adenomas. Stromal CD expression was detected in all cases. A statistically significant positive correlation between neoplastic cells CD and stromal cells CD (SCCD) was observed in both carcinomas and adenomas. Cancer cells CD (CCCD) was positively correlated with collagen type IV and pRb expression as well as with PCNA score. In carcinomas, SCCD expression was statistically correlated with p53 protein and pRb expression and a trend for correlation with PCNA score was found. These data suggest that Cathepsin D of cancer and stromal cells, especially in combination with other markers, may provide more information about the biological behaviour of colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Ioannina, Medical School, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ioachim
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Goussia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Machera
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Tsianos
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kappas
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Agnantis
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000032:analysis*; D002455:Cell Division; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000032:analysis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002402:Cathepsin D; D003094:Collagen; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53