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Immunohistochemical localization of basement membrane type IV collagen in invasive and metastatic squamous carcinomas of the head and neck
Author(s) -
Carter R. L.,
Burman J. F.,
Barr L.,
Gusterson B. A.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711470303
Subject(s) - basement membrane , pathology , immunohistochemistry , type iv collagen , head and neck , squamous carcinoma , lymph , chemistry , medicine , extracellular matrix , carcinoma , laminin , biochemistry , surgery
The immunohistochemical localization of basement membrane type IV collagen was investigated with a mouse monoclonal antibody in major surgical resections from 25 patients with invasive squamous carcinomas of the head and neck. Irrespective of site, size or stage of the disease, the 16 primary invasive tumours were almost completely surrounded by a layer of type IV collagen. Focal abnormalities were regularly present, consisting of thickening and aggregation of type IV collagen together with attenuation and segmental loss. Similar changes were seen in metastatic squamous carcinomas in 36 cervical lymph nodes. It is suggested that the probable formation of a normal basement membrane protein by these squamous carcinomas indicates the preservation of a normal function of differentiating squamous epithelia. The results indicate that a major basement membrane component, type IV collagen, continues to co‐exist with invasive and metastatic squamous carcinomas.