Cathepsin D assay in ovarian cancer: correlation with pathological features and receptors for oestrogen, progesterone and epidermal growth factor.

Using an immunoradiometric assay, Cathepsin-D (Cath-D) concentrations were measured in the cytosol of 68 normal and neoplastic human ovarian tissues. Cath-D levels were higher in malignant tumours than in normal tissue samples (P less than 0.01) and benign tumours (P less than 0.01). In six out of seven cases, metastatic deposits showed Cath-D concentrations higher than the respective primary tumours. Using 12 of 17 pmols.mg-1 protein as cut-off levels, the Cath-D status (high or low) was not related to any pathological parameter. Moreover, no correlation was found between Cath-D levels and receptors for oestrogen, progesterone and epidermal growth factor. Our results indicate that ovarian tumours produce Cath-D. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether this protein could represent a prognostic factor for this neoplasia.