Cathepsin D-related disease-free interval in pT1 primary breast carcinomas: a pilot study.
In order to address the heterogeneity of the pT1 breast cancer stages, we have been examining the natural and the clinical course of disease in relation to cathepsin D expression, as a molecular marker for the tumor progression that leads to metastasis. The original aim of our pilot study was to determine whether it was possible to distinguish high-risk from low-risk patients, on the basis of nonestrogen- vs. estrogen-regulated cathepsin D expression. Our results showed that estrogen-regulated cathepsin D expression could be useful as surrogate marker of node-positive status. Further, during the natural course of disease, none of 7 pT1N0 patients with tumors bearing nonestrogen-regulated cathepsin D expression developed metastasis. During the clinical course of disease, nonestrogen-regulated cathepsin D expression defined low-risk while estrogen-regulated cathepsin D expression defined high-risk pT1N+ subgroup of patients. Although there is no consensus with respect to metastasis-related prognostic value of cathepsin D expression, our pilot study implies its prognostic value in pT1 breast cancer patients and supports the hypothesis that cathepsin D may promote metastasis in this early stage of disease.
Nikolić-Vukosavljević
D
D
Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11 000, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. dragicavn@ncrc.ac.yu
Markićević
M
M
Grujić-Adanja
G
G
Petrović
A
A
Kanjer
K
K
Nesković-Konstantinović
Z
Z
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002402:Cathepsin D