Cathepsin D expression in early cutaneous malignant melanoma.
BACKGROUND
The aspartic proteinase cathepsin D is believed to be associated with proteolytic processes leading to the invasion and seeding of tumor cells. An association between cathepsin D tissue concentration and aggressiveness of tumors has been detected in different cancer types, as well as in metastatic melanoma.


METHODS
The concentration of cathepsin D was measured immunoradiometrically (ELSA-CATH-D kit, CIS Bio International) in the cytosols of 51 primary cutaneous melanomas (with Breslow index < 4 mm) to estimate the tissue concentrations of cathepsin D in early cutaneous melanoma.


RESULTS
A significantly elevated concentration of cathepsin D was measured in the tumor cytosols as compared to adjacent normal tissue (44.2 vs. 14.7 pmol/mg of total protein, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that cathepsin D is expressed at high levels by melanoma cells. The extremely high expression of cathepsin D in two of our patients, with later progression of the disease over a 42-month follow-up period, suggests a possible correlation between the cathepsin D tissue concentration and the prognosis of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma.
Bartenjev
I
I
Department of Dermatovenereology, University Medical Centre, Institute of Oncology, and Institute of Pathology, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Igor.Bartenjev@siol.net
Rudolf
Z
Z
Stabuc
B
B
Vrhovec
I
I
Perkovic
T
T
Kansky
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
D002402:Cathepsin D