[Cathepsin D in primary breast cancer in correlation with various prognostic factors]

The concentration of total cathepsin D, which is regarded as an additional prognostic factor, was measured in 87 patients with primary breast cancer by a radioimmunoassay in tumour cytosol. The distribution of values was approximately log normal with a median value of 49 pmol/mg protein. Relating the level of cathepsin D to other prognostic factors, no significant association to the patients' age, menopausal status, tumour size, axillary lymph node involvement, distant metastases, type of tumour, histological grading or hormone receptor status could be established. Therefore, cathepsin D seems to be independent from other established prognostic criteria, which is a prerequisite for this protease to be useful as an additional prognostic marker.