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. 1993 Sep;68(3):637–640. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1993.399

Expression of pepsinogen C in human breast tumours and correlation with clinicopathologic parameters.

I Diez-Itza 1, A M Merino 1, J Tolivia 1, F Vizoso 1, L M Sánchez 1, C López-Otín 1
PMCID: PMC1968393  PMID: 8353054

Abstract

We have examined by immunohistochemistry the ability of breast carcinomas to produce pepsinogen C, an aspartyl proteinase usually involved in the digestion of proteins in the stomach. A total of 113 out of 245 breast tumours (46%) were positive for pepsinogen C immunostaining. There was a significant association between pepsinogen C and oestrogen receptors with proteinase levels higher (HSCORE) in oestrogen receptor positive tumours than in oestrogen receptor negative. There was also a significant association between pepsinogen C and histological grade, pepsinogen C levels being higher in well and moderately differentiated breast carcinomas than in poorly differentiated tumours. On the basis of these results, we suggest that pepsinogen C may be useful as a marker of good prognosis in breast cancer.

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Selected References

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