The Correlation of Cathepsin D and Ki-67 Expression with 5-year Survival in Small-sized Papillary Adenocarcinoma Cases

Abstract

The proliferative and invasive growth potentials of small-sized pulmonary papillary adenocarcinoma (PPA) were examined. A total of 23 surgically resected cases of PPA, all less than 3 cm in diameter (small-sized), were included. None of these cases had received pre-operative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Expression of Ki-67, a marker of proliferative growth potential, was elevated in 10 out of 23 cases. High Ki-67 expression was significantly correlate with 5-year survival, but not with lymph node involvement. Cathepsin D expression, a marker of invasive growth potential, was elevated in 11 out of 23 cases, and elevated expression was also significantly associated with the 5-year survival rate, but not with lymph node involvement. These findings suggest that Ki-67 and cathepsin D may be useful markers of the malignant potential of small-sized PPA.