Localization patterns of cathepsins K and X and their predictive value in glioblastoma

Abstract

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive central nervous system neoplasm characterized by extensive infiltration of malignant cells into brain parenchyma, thus preventing complete tumor eradication. Cysteine cathepsins B, S, L and K are involved in cancer progression and are overexpressed in glioblastoma. We report here for the first time that cathepsin X mRNA and protein are also abundantly present in malignant glioma.

Keywords

• cathepsins
• glioblastoma
• immunohistochemistry
• patient survival
• cancer stem cell niches