[SEM and TEM observation on behaviour of invasion of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue].
OBJECTIVE
To study the invasive behaviour of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.


METHODS
The cryofracture technique for scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used.


RESULTS
Cancer cells invaded surrounding tissues by proliferation and penetration en masse, and projected with pseudopodia and lamellipodia. The tensile fibers along and under the cell membrane protruded into the interdigitated filopodia. There were dilatation of intercellular spaces, less number of desmosomes and few gap junctions. All the properties above-described together with increase of cell motility, lytic activity, and decrease of intercellular adhesion were likely to contribute to invasiveness.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition, it was identified that highly dense lymphocytes enclosed cancer nest, which could inhibit invasive action of cancer cells.
Lu
L
L
First Afilliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001.
Wang
Z
Z
Wang
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*