Activity of cathepsin D and alpha(1)-antitrypsin in the blood serum of patients with mammary carcinoma.
THE AIM of this study was to determine the activity of cathepsin D and alpha(1)-antitrypsin in the blood serum of patients with mammary carcinoma.


METHODS
The study was conducted on 52 women operated for a unilateral breast tumor, divided into two groups, according to the number of metastases and tumor size. Cathepsin D activity was determined using the method of Anson, while alpha(1)-antitrypsin activity was determined according to the Eriksson method.


RESULTS
Both groups of patients with mammary carcinoma were found to have higher activity of cathepsin D before the treatment compared to healthy females. After the surgery the enzyme activity increased significantly, whereas 6 months after the surgery it generally decreased. The activity of alpha(1)-antitrypsin was significantly lower in patients before the treatment than in the controls, while after 6 months an increase in alpha(1)-antitrypsin activity was observed. The correlation between activity of cathepsin D and alpha(1)-antitrypsin was revealed. High enzyme activity and low alpha(1)-antitrypsin activity may result from the stage of neoplastic transformation.


CONCLUSIONS
The determination of cathepsin D activity together with alpha(1)-antitrypsin activity may serve as useful biochemical marker in monitoring of malignant changes in breast tumor.
Wozniak
A
A
Department of Medical Biology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Mila-Kierzenkowska
C
C
Schachtschabel
D O
DO
Wozniak
B
B
Rozwodowska
M
M
Drewa
T
T
Drewa
S
S
Sir
J
J
Sir
I
I
Maciak
R
R
Krzyzynska-Malinowska
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism*
D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D002402:Cathepsin D