RGD Reference Report - Predictive value of cathepsin-D for cervical lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. - Rat Genome Database

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Predictive value of cathepsin-D for cervical lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Authors: Gandour-Edwards, R  Trock, B  Donald, PJ 
Citation: Gandour-Edwards R, etal., Head Neck 1999 Dec;21(8):718-22.
RGD ID: 1547892
Pubmed: PMID:10562684   (View Abstract at PubMed)

BACKGROUND: Prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is strongly associated with cervical lymph node metastasis. Cathepsin-D is a lysosomal protease expressed in all cells. Its role in extracellular matrix degradation is postulated to promote tumor invasion and metastasis. Increased cathepsin-D has been demonstrated in cervical lymph node metastasis in HNSCC. METHODS: Formalin fixed tumor biopsy samples from 34 patients with HNSCC of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or hypopharynx were analyzed for the presence of cathepsin-D by immunohistochemistry (1:8000, Calbiochem, Cambridge, MA). Tumors were considered positive if >50% of cells showed strong cytoplasmic staining. RESULTS: All patients had T1 or T2 lesions ranging in size from 1-4 cm and 19 (56%) had cervical metastasis. Eight (24%) were well differentiated and 26 (76%) were moderately or poorly differentiated. Thirteen tumors (38%) had high cathepsin-D expression that was strongly associated with cervical lymph node metastasis (p = 0.008). When adjusted for tumor stage and grade, cathepsin-D positivity was nearly twice as likely to be associated with node metastasis (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated cathepsin-D expression in biopsies from a subset of patients with HNSCC and a strong association between this protease and cervical lymph node metastases. Cathepsin-D is a potential independent predictor of cervical lymph node metastasis in HNSCC and merits additional study.

RGD Manual Disease Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Neoplasm Metastasis  IEP 1547892protein:increased expression:oral cavity more ...RGD 
Neoplasm Metastasis  ISOCTSD (Homo sapiens)1547892; 1547892protein:increased expression:oral cavity more ...RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Ctsd  (cathepsin D)

Genes (Mus musculus)
Ctsd  (cathepsin D)

Genes (Homo sapiens)
CTSD  (cathepsin D)


Additional Information