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Immunohistochemical studies concerning cathepsin D in endometrial carcinomas
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Objectives:
To study the prognostic value of immunohistochemical detection of cathepsin D and laminin in endometrial carcinomas.
Methods:
Immunohistochemical staining of cathepsin D was performed on paraffin sections of 111 endometrial carcinomas, and laminin deposition was studied in 65 endometrial carcinomas.
Results:
Of 111 tissue specimens, 55 showed a positive reaction for cathepsin D. The incidence of cathepsin D-positive staining increased with the extension of the primary tumor (p < 0.01). Patients with vessel invasion and pelvic lymph-node metastasis had a higher incidence of cathepsin D-positive staining than patients without these findings (p < 0.05). A favorable prognosis was obtained in a negative case of cathepsin D in comparison with a positive case (p < 0.01). Of 9 patients in whom laminin was detected in the cytoplasm of cancer cells, 5 showed poor prognoses and died from a primary disease.
Conclusion:
Cathepsin D and laminin status might represent possible prognostic factors.