Cysteine cathepsins are proteases that play a role in normal cellular physiology and neoplastic transformation. Elevated expression and enzymatic activity of cathepsins in breast cancer (BCa) indicates their potential as a target for tumor imaging. In particular cathepsin B (CTSB), L (CTSL), and S (CTSS) are used as targets for near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging (FI), a technique that allows real-time intraoperative tumor visualization and resection margin assessment. Therefore, this immunohistochemical study explores CTSB, CTSL, and CTSS expression levels in a large breast cancer patient cohort, to investigate in which BCa patients the use of cathepsin-targeted NIR FI may have added value.
Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Cathepsin B, L, and S Expression in Breast Cancer Patients.
CHDR
Linders DGJ, Bijlstra OD, Fallert LC, Dekker-Ensink NG, March TL, Pool M, Walker E, Straight B, Basilion JP, Bogyo M, Burggraaf J, Hilling DE, Vahrmeijer AL, Kuppen PJK, Crobach ASLP
