Clinical prognostic factors and expression of cathepsin D in endometrioid adenocarcinoma

The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between the expression of cathepsin D and clinical prognostic data in endometrioid adenocarcinoma of different histological grade. We studied 104 postmenopausal women with diagnosis of endometrioid adenocarcinoma. We evaluated the presence of obesity and vaginal bleeding. Surgical specimens were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution and embedded in paraffin. 4 mm sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin, von Gieson, and histological type of cancer, metastatic lesion of lymph nodes and depth of myometrial invasion were evaluated. Histological grade of cancer was assessed by FIGO grading system. All samples were analysed by immunohistochemistry for cathepsin D (Dakocytomation). We assessed the number of cathepsin D-positive stromal and tumor cells and degree of positivity (low, moderate, high). Histological study by hematoxylin and eosin showed grade 1 endometrioid carcinoma in 35 cases (33,7%, group 1), grade 2 in 44 cases (42,3%, group 2), grade 3 in 25 cases (24%, grade 3). Our results suggest that the expression of cathepsin D is associated with the higher histological grade of endometrioid adenocarcinoma, depth of myometrial invasion, lymph node positivity, coexistence of obesity and vaginal bleeding. It seems that local invasion and metastatic spread of tumor should be preceeded by the expression of cathepsin D in stromal cells which can be assessed in grade 1 and 2 endometrioid adenocarcinomas. The expression of cathepsin D can be used as a prognostic factor and more aggressive chemothepery regimen should be used.