title: The prognostic value of the expression of collagenase IV, cathepsin D and metallothionein in squamous cell carcinomas of the skin determined by immunohistochemistry.
abstract: We analyzed 53 specimens from primary squamous cell carcinomas of the skin for the expression of collagenase IV, cathepsin D and metallothionein by means of immunohistochemistry along with histological data. We compared tumors that metastasized (30) with tumors that did not (23) during a follow-up period of at least 5 years. The expression of the two proteolytic enzymes cathepsin D and collagenase IV was also assessed at the invading front of the tumors. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences for the overall expression of cathepsin D (P < 0.05), expression of cathepsin at the invading front (P < 0.05) and the tumor thickness (P < 0.01). The results showed that cathepsin D may be a prognostic factor for squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. We then combined the results of parameters with statistically significant differences by multiplication. The prognostic value of such a combined risk-factor score showed higher confidence than any of the single parameters alone: a sensitivity of 63.3%, a specificity of 87.0% and an efficiency of 73.6%. This kind of combined risk-factor score might be used to more accurately detect patients at high risk of metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Research Center Borstel, Parkallee 3, 23845 Borstel, Germany. tgoldmann@fz-borstel.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goldmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moorkamp
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wiedorn
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suter
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Otto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008668:Metallothionein; D002402:Cathepsin D; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2