Immunohistochemical analysis of cathepsin D in prostate carcinoma
Makar, R.; Mason, A.; Kittelson, J.M.; Bowden, G.T.; Cress, A.E.; Nagle, R.B.
Modern Pathology An Official Journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology Inc 7(7): 747-751
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0893-3952 PMID: 7824508 Document Number: 434497
Cathepsin D is a carboxyl protease that has been implicated as an important factor in tumor cell invasion. Sixty-nine cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the prostate were studied by the indirect immunoperoxidase method using a primary monoclonal anti-cathepsin D antibody. Immunoreactivity was graded from 0 (negative) to 4+ (intense reaction). The normal tubuloalveolar glands were, in general, negative. However, nine cases revealed focal staining of nonneoplastic luminal cells. Basal cells were negative except in areas of basal-cell hyperplasia, which were intensely positive. Thirty-nine of 78 carcinoma samples revealed 2+ or greater positive punctate lysosomal staining. In the 39 positive-stained cases, the reactivity was diffuse in three and focal in the remainder. The percentage of carcinoma cases whose worst lesions stained 2+ or greater showed a nonsignificant (P = 0 055) relation to Gleason grade but a significant (P = 0.03 1) relationship to pathologic stage. Thus, cathepsin D may prove to be a useful marker of prostate cancer progression.