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Cathepsin D expression in early cutaneous malignant melanoma
I Bartenjev1, Z Rudolf, B Stabuc
1Department of Dermatovenereology, University Medical Centre, Institute of Oncology, and Institute of Pathology, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Igor.Bartenjev@siol.net
International Journal of Dermatology
|September 6, 2000
Summary
Cathepsin D is highly expressed in melanoma cells, indicating elevated tissue concentrations in primary cutaneous melanoma. This suggests a potential link between cathepsin D levels and melanoma prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cathepsin D, an aspartic proteinase, is implicated in tumor cell invasion and metastasis.
- Elevated cathepsin D levels correlate with tumor aggressiveness in various cancers, including melanoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify cathepsin D concentrations in primary cutaneous melanoma tissues.
- To investigate the relationship between cathepsin D expression and early-stage melanoma.
Main Methods:
- Immunoradiometric assay (ELSA-CATH-D kit) was used to measure cathepsin D concentration.
- Analysis was performed on cytosols from 51 primary cutaneous melanomas (Breslow index < 4 mm).
Main Results:
- Significantly higher cathepsin D concentrations were found in melanoma tumor cytosols compared to adjacent normal tissue (44.2 vs. 14.7 pmol/mg protein, P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Melanoma cells exhibit high expression of cathepsin D.
- Exceptionally high cathepsin D levels in two patients correlated with disease progression over 42 months.
- These findings suggest cathepsin D tissue concentration may serve as a prognostic marker for primary cutaneous malignant melanoma.