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Correlation between Mannose-6-phosphate/IGFII Receptor and Cathepsin D RNA Levels by in Situ Hybridization in Benign and Malignant Mammary Tumors¹

University of Montpellier 1 and INSERM Hormones and Cancer (U 148), 60 Rue de Navacelles, 34090 Montpellier, France [Y. Z., C. E., T. M., C. P., H. R.]; and Val d'Aurelle Cancer Center, Parc Euromédecine, 34094 Montpellier Cedex 2, France [P. R.]

We evaluated levels of mannose-6-phosphate/insulin growth factor-II receptor (M6P/IGFII-R) RNA in 37 breast cancer tumors by quantitative in situ hybridization using a computer-aided image analyzer and compared them to cathepsin D RNA and protein levels in the same tissues. Breast cancer cells expressed more cathepsin D and M6P/IGFII-R RNA than fibroblasts in the same tumors. We found a significant increase of cathepsin D RNA (P = 1 x 10^-5) and M6P/IGFII-R RNA (P = 0.02) in breast cancer cells compared to epithelial cells of benign mastopathies. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.65; P = 1 x 10^-5) between M6P/IGFII-R and cathepsin D RNA levels measured on serial sections. This contrasted with the inverse relationship of these 2 RNA species in breast cancer cell lines where estrogen down-regulates M6P/IGFII receptor RNA levels. Moreover, in vivo we found no correlation between the M6P/IGFII-R RNA level and menopausal or estrogen receptor status, suggesting that the in vivo regulation of M6P/IGFII-R RNA differs from its in vitro regulation in cell lines. The M6P/IGFII-R RNA level was not correlated with cathepsin D status, histological grade, and tumor size but was significantly higher in lymph node-positive tumors (P = 0.047). The M6P/IGFII-R could therefore be an additional parameter to predict aggressive breast cancers, complementing cathepsin D assays and other more classical pronostic parameters.

¹ This work was supported by the "Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale," the Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier, the "Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer," the association "Vaincre les Maladies Lysosomales," and the "Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie des Travailleurs Salariés."

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 12/18/92. Accepted 4/12/93.

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