title: Study of the expression of cathepsins in histological material from pancreatic lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the expression levels of cathepsins in malignant and premalignant lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively included patients who underwent pancreatic surgery on pancreatic solid or cystic masses. The expression of cathepsin H, L, B and S was determined in both types of samples. Lesions were divided into three categories: malignant (pancreatic adenocarcinoma and malignant mucinous neoplasms), premalignant (mucinous neoplasms) and benign (other lesions).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one surgical resection samples were studied. The expression of cathepsins was significantly higher in malignant lesions than in premalignant and benign lesions (H 75%, 27%, 37% p = 0.05; L 92%, 36%, 37% p = 0.011; B 83%, 36%, 62% p = 0.069; S 92%, 36%, 25% p = 0.004, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cathepsins are overexpressed in histological samples of malignant lesions compared to premalignant and benign lesions. However, the expression of cathepsins is similar in both premalignant and benign lesions.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Endoscopia Digestiva, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Endoscopia Digestiva, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, España.
authors.forename: José Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Aparicio
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peiró
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabezas
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Endoscopia Digestiva, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Endoscopia Digestiva, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Endoscopia Digestiva, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Compañy
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Endoscopia Digestiva, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Casellas
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002403:Cathepsins