Endometrial carcinoma expresses an increased cathepsin B/D ratio

Malignant endometrium displays increased cathepsin B activity when compared benign samples. The cathepsin B/D ratio is increased for each of the malignant groups studied when compared directly to benign endometrium. The cathepsin B/D ratio cannot be utilized to distinguish the stage or grade between any of the malignant groups studied. This ratio may serve to distinguish malignant from benign tumor samples and may be a constitutive change in the malignant transformation.