Tumour budding intensity in relation to cathepsin D expression and some clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer

Although it has been suggested that tumour budding at the invasive edge of colorectal cancer is an important prognostic factor its biological significance for tumour progression is still to be evaluated. The aim of the study was to correlate tumour budding intensity with cathepsin D expression and some other clinicopathological variables of presumed or established prognostic value. 48 patients with colorectal cancer at pT3 stage, G2 grade of histological differentiation and tumour budding at the invasive edge were evaluated. Colorectal tumours were investigated for cathepsin D expression by immunohistochemistry of formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissues. There was no statistically significant relationships between tumour budding intensity grade and primary tumour cathepsin D expression, stromal cell cathepsin D expression and histochemical immunostaining of cathepsin D in rumour budding at its invasive edge. The tumour budding intensity was not associated with lymph node status, tumour site, peritumoral inflammatory response as well as the patient's age and sex. The results of this study suggest that intensity of tumour budds formation at the invasive margin of colorectal cancer is not associated with presumed or established prognostic factors such as lymph node metastases, and peritumoural inflammatory reaction as well as cathepsin D expression.