Immunohistochemical studies concerning cathepsin D in endometrial carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prognostic value of immunohistochemical detection of cathepsin D and laminin in endometrial carcinomas.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining of cathepsin D was performed on paraffin sections of 111 endometrial carcinomas, and laminin deposition was studied in 65 endometrial carcinomas.


RESULTS
Of 111 tissue specimens, 55 showed a positive reaction for cathepsin D. The incidence of cathepsin D-positive staining increased with the extension of the primary tumor (p < 0.01). Patients with vessel invasion and pelvic lymph-node metastasis had a higher incidence of cathepsin D-positive staining than patients without these findings (p < 0.05). A favorable prognosis was obtained in a negative case of cathepsin D in comparison with a positive case (p < 0.01). Of 9 patients in whom laminin was detected in the cytoplasm of cancer cells, 5 showed poor prognoses and died from a primary disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Cathepsin D and laminin status might represent possible prognostic factors.
Inoue
Y
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Abe
K
K
Obata
K
K
Doh
K
K
Ohmura
G
G
Hoshiai
H
H
Noda
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000032:analysis*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis
D007797:Laminin; D002402:Cathepsin D