抄録
We evaluated the expression of cathepsin D (CD) in a series of colorectal tumor cells and stromal cells, in relation to the clinicopathological and histopathological features. Tissue samples were obtained from the archival surgical specimens of 72 primary colorectal adenocarcinomas and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) specimens of 53 colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas. The carcinomas were sited in the mucosa (M) in 23 patients, in the submucosa (SM) in 28 patients, in the muscularis propna (MP) in 16 patients, and in the subserosa (SS) in 39 patients. The adenoma samples comprised 19 severe dysplastic adenomas (AD) . High CD expression in the tumor cells was observed in 1 case (5.3%) of AD, 2 cases (8.7%) of M, 10 cases (35.7%) of SM, 7 cases (43.8%) of MP, and in 15 cases (38.4%) of SS. There was a significant correlation between the CD expression of M and SM samples (p<0.05) . High CD expression in the stromal cells was observed in 1 case (5.3%) of AD, in 1 case (4.3%) of M, in 12 cases (42.9%) of SM, in 12 cases (75%) of MP, and in 27 cases (69.2%) of SS. There was correlation between the CD expression of M and SM carcinomas (p<0.01) and between that of SM and MP (p<0.05) . In 72 surgical specimens, lymph nodes metastasis was proven histologically in 1 case (5.9%) of SM, 2 cases (12.5%) of MP, and in 17 cases (43.6%) of SS. In both tumor cells and stromal cells, there were no correlation between CD expression and lymph nodes metastasis. These results indicate that cathepsin D expression in carcinoma and stromal cells reflects a potential for invasive growth of colorectal tumors.
