@article{3083642,
    title = "Immunohistochemical evaluation of cathepsin D in normal, hyperplastic
and malignant endometrium: Correlation with hormone receptor status
c-erbB-2, p53, Rb proteins and proliferation associated indices",
    author = "Ioachim, E and Kitsiou, E and Charalabopoulos, K and Mitselou, A and and Zagorianakou, N and Makrydimas, G and Tzioras, S and Salmas, M",
    journal = "International Journal of Gynecological Cancer",
    year = "2003",
    volume = "13",
    number = "3",
    pages = "344-351",
    publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",
    issn = "1048-891X, 1525-1438",
    doi = "10.1046/j.1525-1438.2003.13181.x",
    keywords = "Cathepsin D; endometrial lesions; hormone receptors;
immunohistochemistry",
    abstract = "The immunohistochemical expression of cathepsin D was performed in
paraffin embedded tissue from 79 endometrial carcinomas, 35 cases of
hyperplasia, and 32 normal endometrium using the streptavidin-biotin
method to investigate the role of cathepsin D (CD) in these lesions and
its possible relationship with other potential and established
prognostic markers. The association between CD and the other markers was
assessed by univariate analysis. Tumor cell CD expression was lower in
the group of carcinomas compared to the normal proliferative (P = 0.022)
and secretory endometrium (P = 0.0005). In addition, hyperplastic cell
CD expression was lower compared with epithelial cell CD expression in
the secretory phase of normal endometrium (P = 0.009). Malignant cell CD
expression was inversely correlated with tumor stromal cells (P =
0.007). A positive relationship of stromal cell CD expression with pRb
(P = 0.046) and PCNA score (P < 0.0001) was detected in the group of
carcinomas. In the proliferative phase of normal endometrium, epithelial
CD expression was positively correlated with estrogen status (P =
0.015). The data show that down-regulation of CD expression is an early
event in endometrial carcinogenesis. In addition, stromal cell CD
expression may be involved in cell growth process in endometrial
carcinomas."
}