Analysis of cathepsin D in human breast cancer: Usefulness of the processsed 31 kDa active form of the enzyme as a prognostic indicator in node-negative and node-positive patients

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Abstract
The relative amounts of the precursor (52 kDa) and processed (31,27 kDa) forms of cathepsin D have been analyzed by Western blotting in biopsied breast tissue cytosols from 134 lesions from invasive breast cancer patients, 24 lesions from patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), 227 lesions from benign breast disease patients, and 28 lesions from normal control subjects. The mean relative percentage amount of the 31 kDa form was significantly increased (pp18) were significantly (p<0.05) more likely to die than patients in the ‘low’ 31 kDa group (≤18%). The 12 patients who died were all node-positive and in the high 31 kDa group. It thus appears that the relative amount of the processed, active 31 kDa form of cathepsin D is a useful prognostic indicator, at least in node-positive breast cancer patients.