title: Immunohistochemical expression of cathepsin D in laryngeal epithelial lesions: correlation with CD44 expression, p53 and Rb status and proliferation associated indices.
abstract: Clinical studies in several tumour types have shown a strong correlation between cathepsin D expression and tumour progression. Immunohistochemical staining for cathepsin D (clone D13A) was performed in paraffin embedded-tissues from 39 invasive squamous cell carcinomas, 13 in situ carcinomas, 35 cases of dysplasia, 10 papillomas and 17 cases of keratosis. The association between cathepsin D expression and CD44, p53, Rb proteins and proliferation indices (Ki-67, PCNA) was assessed by univariate analysis. Cathepsin D was highly positive in the groups of carcinomas compared to other lesions (p < 0.0001). A statistically significant correlation of cathepsin D expression with CD44 expression was observed in invasive cancers (p = 0.037). The relationship of cathepsin D immunoreactivity with p53, Rb and proliferation indices was insignificant. The results show that cathepsin D is expressed in a higher proportion of cancerous lesions of the larynx than in non cancerous or premalignant lesions, a fact which suggests that cathepsin D may be involved in laryngeal tumour cell growth process.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, University of Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goussia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ioachim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peschos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Assimakopoulos
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vougiouklakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skevas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agnantis
mesh_terms: D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010212:Papilloma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D002402:Cathepsin D