Significance of the tumor protease cathepsin D for the biology of breast cancer.

Abstract

Cathepsin D is a protease involved in the metastasis and angiogenesis of mammary carcinomas. This review analyzes the significance of the tumor protease cathepsin D in mammary carcinomas as a tumor marker. We present a systematic overview based on a selective Medline search. Cathepsin D is expressed in mammary carcinomas and exhibits higher expression in invasive ductal carcinomas compared with lobular carcinomas. Nodal positive carcinomas showed reduced cathepsin D expression compared to lymph node metastases, and increased expression has been observed in hormone-receptor negative tumors. Thus, the expression of cathepsin varies between the two histological types. Increased cathepsin-D expression in acinar affection has also been described. The lack of an association of cathepsin D with known prognostic factors such as CA15-3, ERalpha and ERbeta does not prevent it from being using as a tumor marker. Cathepsin has already been used along with other genes as a prognostic parameter for carcinoma patients in gene arrays.

• Authors: Darius Dian, Sabine Heublein, Irmi Wiest, Lisa Barthell, Klaus Friese, Udo Jeschke
• Journal: Histology and histopathology (Histol Histopathol) Vol. 29 Issue 4 Pg. 433-8 (Apr 2014) ISSN: 1699-5848 [Electronic] Spain
• PMID: 24265119 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Cathepsin D

Topics

• Animals
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Breast Neoplasms (enzymology)
• Carcinoma (enzymology)
• Cathepsin D (analysis, biosynthesis)
• Female
• Humans