title: Integrin molecules: a clue to the non-metastasizing behaviour of basal cell carcinomas?
abstract: Does the integrin profile of basal cell carcinomas explain their non-metastasizing behaviour? Immunohistochemical Investigation of nodular (n = 31) and superficial (n = 17) tumours yielded a strong expression of alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6, beta 1, and beta 3 subunits and a weak expression of alpha 4 subunits by the epithelial tumour component. alpha 5 subunits were focally detected in superficial basal cell carcinomas but not in the nodular type. Tumour cells were nearly devoid of alpha v subunits. The integrin profile of basal cell carcinomas does not differ essentially from that of metastasizing tumour varieties and cannot be regarded as a major reason for the non-metastasizing phenotype of basal cell carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reichrath
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016023:Integrins