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Characterization of Type I collagen synthesis and maturation in uterine carcinosarcomas
Author(s) -
Kauppila Saila,
Stenbäck Frej,
Kacinski Barry M.,
Carcangiu MariaLuisa,
Risteli Juha,
Risteli Leila
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19991001)86:7<1299::aid-cncr27>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - stroma , stromal cell , pathology , procollagen peptidase , mesenchymal stem cell , immunohistochemistry , epithelium , in situ hybridization , type i collagen , biology , cell type , cancer cell , collagen, type i, alpha 1 , messenger rna , cancer , cell , medicine , extracellular matrix , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , genetics , gene
BACKGROUND Epithelial malignancies often induce an enhanced expression of interstitial collagens in the fibroblasts within the tumor tissue and the surrounding non‐neoplastic stroma. In uterine carcinosarcomas (malignant mixed müllerian tumors [MMMTs]) both the stroma and the epithelium are malignant. METHODS In this investigation, both in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining were applied with two different antibodies that were capable of distinguishing between newly synthesized and mature, trivalently cross‐linked Type I collagen to define Type I procollagen mRNA expression and the synthesis and maturation of the corresponding protein in MMMTs. RESULTS In the better differentiated parts of these tumors, in which anticytokeratins stained only clearly carcinomatous cells, Type I procollagen mRNA expression was limited to stromal fibroblasts; mature Type I collagen bundles were abundant and regular. In poorly differentiated areas, in which anticytokeratins stained only a few individual cells, Type I procollagen mRNA was expressed peculiarly by three morphologically different cell types. In addition to benign mesenchymal cells, Type I procollagen mRNA was present in atypical epithelial and mesenchymal cells. In these tumors, the collagen bundles close to the malignant cells were comprised of newly synthesized Type I collagen, with only little evidence of the presence of mature, fully cross‐linked collagen. CONCLUSIONS These results strongly suggest that the undifferentiated cells of MMMTs are capable of producing their own stroma with irregularly arranged collagen bundles. Cancer 1999;86:1299–306. © 1999 American Cancer Society.