title: Cathepsin D expression in early cutaneous malignant melanoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenereology, University Medical Centre, Institute of Oncology, and Institute of Pathology, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Igor.Bartenjev@siol.net
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bartenjev
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rudolf
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stabuc
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vrhovec
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perkovic
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kansky
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002402:Cathepsin D