Objective: To investigate the relationship between Cathepsin-D(Cath-D) and the prognosis of patients with salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC).
Methods: The immunoactivity of Cath-D of 52 cases with SACC was determined by immunohistochemistry method (Streptavidin-Biotin method). The relationship between Cath-D and the histological type, clinical stage, local recurrence, distant metastasis of the tumor and survival rate of the patients with SACC were analysed.
Results: Statistical analysis showed that the expression levels of Cath-D were correlated positively with distant metastasis potential and clinical stage (P < 0.05), and had no significant relation with histological type, local recurrence and survival rate (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Cath-D can facilitate invasiveness and distant metastasis of SACC; evaluation of Cath-D can act as a predictor of distant metastasis of SACC and direct the clinical treatment.