The importance of cathepsin's-D tissular detection in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Various recognized prognostic factors in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx influence the therapeutic option offered to an individual patient in order to extend the survival expectancy. Additional prognostic indicators are required in specific patient subgroups. We performed a retrospective study by using a standard immunohistochemical technique in order to evaluate the accumulation of cathepsin-D as possible prognostic marker of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tumor materials were obtained from a series of 64 patients with cancer of the larynx. Immunostaining was evaluated by computerized image analysis. Cathepsin-D immunostaining was observed in tumor parenchymal and stromal cells (31.25% and 37.5% of all cases respectively); it was found to be useful in defining patient subgroups with differences in relapse-free survival. Among patients with positive lymph nodes, those with cathepsin-D immunopositive tumor cells were in higher risk for relapsing (p = 0.0395). Although the classical prognostic factors of laryngeal carcinoma retain their predominance, cathepsin-D immunoreactivity may serve as an additional prognosticator in specific patient subgroups.