Lysosomal proteinases, cathepsin B (CB) and cathepsin D (CD) have been
implicated in the progression of several human tumors. In the present
study, the antigen levels of CB and CD, and their immunohistochemical
staining were compared in paired colorectal tumors (n = 64) and
background colon tissue of the same patients with clinicopathological
staging. The antigen levels, were found to be significantly higher in
cancer tissue (mean 35.79 ng/mg protein for CB and 3.97 ng/mg protein
for CD) than in corresponding normal mucosa (24.62 ng/mg protein for CB
and 2.69 ng/mg protein for CD). CB antigen levels were positively
correlated with differentiation grade and Duke’s stage (P < 0.001 and P
= 0.041, respectively), but not correlated with nodal status. CD antigen
levels were not correlated with the previous parameters. Staining
intensity for both antigens increased from adenoma to adenocarcinoma.
The degree of staining for CB and CD was associated with differentiation
grade (P = 0.004 and 0.001, respectively), Dukes’ stage (P = 0.002 and
0.001, respectively) and lymph node involvement (P = 0.002 and P <
0.001, respectively). (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights
reserved
