Cathespin D

Hello
I am newly diagnosed, one week after surgery, HER2 (100% expression), ER-negative, PR-negative, with p53 overexpression, Cathespin D (100% overexpression). Cathepspin D is apparently a predictor of possibility of distant metastases. Have any of you ever heard of that? Anyone heard of p53? Is that measured in the USA? (I live in Switzerland).

I posted a paper, in which I found the definitions of all of these parameters, and none look real positive. I am just now undergoing diagnostic tests for metastases, so I don't know that status yet.

Comments are invited, please. Thanks to whomever, for creating this site. I have learned a lot here.

Very best to all of you, with compassion and sympathy.
Nedra

[sarah]

Hello Nedra,
I am definitely NOT the best person to answer this but I found some information but it's from 1999 when I was first diagnosed and many of these things were bad for me also. In 1999 I wasn't given Herceptin so that's how much things have changed for the better and I'd asked the oncologist about it since I was so HER2+++ So a lot has changed since then but I do agree in knowing as much as possible so that you can ask what can I do about this and that. When you read the stories about people on this site you realize that inner strength is a powerful treatment. I hope this posting doesn't freak some people out as I said many were bad for me and it's 7 years later. I think the HER2 and ER status is the most important and they have treatments for them. here's what I found:



Epidermal growth‑factor receptor (EGFr) All cells have receptors that are 11 switched on" by growth factors telling the cell to multiply. altered cells, the receptors cause the cells to multiply uncontrollably. About half of breast‑cancer cases have altered receptors.


Ki‑67 In simple terms, this measures the speed of cell growth and division.

S-phase The S-phase test how quickly slowly divides also cks DNA - diploid(better) versus aneuploid (bad)


cathepsin D Patients with low levels of the enzyme cathepsin D and positive axillary nodes invariably outlive those with high levels of cathepsin D and negative nodes.



p53 This is a gene mutation that is known to be present in about half of all breast cancers. An abnormality of p53 gives an increased risk of ovarian and bowel cancer as well as breast cancer. When the gene is normal it restricts cell growth;

[Christine MH-UK]

Hi Nedra,

It is tough having bad prognosis factors, but it is important to keep in mind that the odds can't tell you what will happen to you, especially if the scan results come back clean.

I had really bad prognosis factors, but I am still around, NED, nearly three years later. The important thing if you're high risk with stage IIIA, is to have appropriate and aggressive treatment. There has been alot of progress on her2 positive breast cancer in recent years and chemo makes a big difference for er-,pr- cancers. I think there was some suspicion that taxanes make a big difference for patients with broken p53 tumor surpressor genes.

There has also been alot of progress with secondary her2 breast cancer, although not as much as with early her2 postive breast cancer.

I hope all goes well with the scan.

Best wishes,

Christine

Dear Christine
Thank you so much for your reply. I was diagnosed two weeks ago, and since then my head is swimming, sometimes in information, sometimes in confusion, and always in sadness.
I appreciate your support, and positive outlook. It really means a lot.
All the best,
Nedra

Hi Sarah
I hope I have hit the right button - I am new to this site - new to the diagnosis. I truly appreciate the support I have received. It is hard to remain positive in the face of such an unfavorable diagnosis, but ready all of these stories gives a lot of insight into what other women have faced, and thus it brings courage.
Unfortunately I do have high levels of Cathespin D and negative nodes.
Thanks again for your input, it really helps
All the best,
Nedra

[sarah]

Nedra,
So was/am I high on cathespin.
I was told at the time that these things were more important if it's invasive but remember the chemo and radiation are given to kill the cancer and hopefully it won't come back.
I'll be interested to know if you learn anything new.
I believe in trying to be as informed as possible and making a list for the oncologist to answer and then going through the list.
Also remember that having invasive HER2+ 20 years ago was deadly but now because of Herceptin and other drugs coming on line, I've read it may be better than being a triple negative so times and drugs change but fight for everything you think you need and to understand anything that worries you and go with a good friend to your first appointments and tests and treatment until you are comfortable.
The positive thing about this disease is that it is so well understood by doctors and has so much research aimed at it because unfortunately so many have it.
Once you start your treatment, you'll get into a routine and you'll feel good knowing you're doing something to fight this horrible disease.
This is a great site with some amazing men and women on it with great knowledge and they'll tell you that you can lick this thing.
all the best,
courage
sarah

[Hopeful]

Nedra and Sarah,

I am unfamiliar with testing for Cathespin D. Was this a standard test your pathologist performed on the tumor, or did you or your surgeon specifically request it?

Nedra, I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis. This forum is a great source of information and inspiration. We are all fortunate (a relative term, here) that the her2+ factor has become the "hot" issue for research and targeted treatments today. Please do not lose hope.

Hopeful

[AlaskaAngel]

A friendly note, in case others are trying to look it up... it is "cathepsin".

AlaskaAngel

P.S. Nedra, I just looked at the article you posted... and was amazed to see it spelled in the article as cathespin... so I went to my medical dictionary to be sure... and it uses the spelling "cathepsin". No wonder it is confusing!

AlaskaAngel

Hello Hopeful
I do believe it is a standard American test as well, as there are several American papers on the internet about it. It is used as a predictor of the tumor's ability to metastasize. I find it very scary because mine is 100% overexpressed Cathepsin D.
Kind regards,
Nedra

Hi again Hopeful
Also, I posted a paper (on that section of this site which is for papers) which explains several terms used surrounding breast cancer terminology, it is from the Newport Cancer Center, which is an American place. That is how I found out that they use that for predicting possibility of metastasis.

Nedra