Immunohistochemical evaluation of tissue-specific proteolytic enzymes in adenomas containing foci of early carcinoma: correlations with cathepsin D expression and other malignant features.

Background: Cathepsin D (CD) is an aspartyl lysosomal protease, and the prognostic value of CD expression has been studied in a variety of tumors, however, its role in early adenocarcinomas remains unclear.

Aim Of The Study: We evaluated the expression of CD in a series of colorectal adenomas with severe dysplasia containing foci of early carcinoma and compared the results to several histopathological and immunohistochemical features.

Methods: Adenomas were obtained by endoscopic polypectomy from 33 patients.