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Apparent fusion of basement membranes in colorectal carcinoma
Author(s) -
Hewitt Robert E.,
Powe Desmond G.,
Holland Cathrine M.,
Gray Trevor,
Turner David R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910500106
Subject(s) - pathology , basement membrane , staining , stromal cell , carcinoma , connective tissue , immunohistochemistry , biology , medicine
Abstract Previous studies on colorectal carcinomas indicate that consistent differences in epithelial basement membrane (EBM) integrity are present between the tumour centre and periphery. We report that within the tumour centre, EBM staining between back‐to‐back (BTB) neoplastic glands (i.e., adjacent glands in direct contact with no intervening connective tissue) generally follows a pattern different from that of EBM staining at the tumour:stromal interface (TSI). Such distinctions are important, since the factors responsible for EBM deficiencies may vary with intra‐tumoural location, as may the prognostic significance of these deficiencies. Analysis of paraffin sections from 130 colorectal carcinoma cases showed that EBM staining between BTB glands is generally weaker and more discontinuous than at the TSI, sometimes appearing as a linear array of immunostained granules on high‐resolution light microscopy. By double‐labelling immunofluorescence analysis of cryostat sections from 30 cases, a decrease in type‐IV collagen:laminin staining intensity ratio was found between BTB glands. Hence, the composition of EBM between BTB glands appears to be abnormal. As much recent evidence indicates that epithelial:mesenchymal interactions play an essential role in EBM formation, the demonstration of immunostained EBM fragments between BTB glands requires an explanation: We suggest that the synthesis of EBM between BTB glands involved previously intervening stromal (mesenchymal) cells, and that EBM fusion and dissolution occur between BTB glands following the displacement of these cells.