Cathepsin D in primary squamous laryngeal tumors: correlation with clinico-pathological parameters and receptor status. |
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| Authors: | G Ferrandina G Scambia P Benedetti Panici G Almadori G Paludetti G Cadoni M Distefano M Maurizi S Mancuso |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University, L.go A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy. |
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| Abstract: | Using an immunoradiometric assay, Cathepsin D (Cath D) levels were measured in the cytosol of 23 normal and 39 neoplastic human laryngeal tissues. Scattered Cath D levels (from 2.2 to 17.8 pM/mg protein; median = 7.6) were found in normal mucosa specimens. Cath D concentrations range from 2.0 to 29.3 pM/mg protein (median = 8.5) in laryngeal tumors. When a comparison between Cath D levels in normal and neoplastic tissue specimens from the same patient was done, Cath D levels were significantly higher in laryngeal cancers than in their normal counterparts (P = 0.03). No correlation with clinico-pathological parameters and steroid hormone and epidermal growth factor receptor status was found. Further studies should investigate whether the production of Cath D by laryngeal tumors could have a clinical relevance for this neoplasia. |
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