[The expression of extracellular matrix in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: an immunohistochemical study].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and the protective significance of extracellular matrix (ECM) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas(LSCC).


METHODS
The expression and distribution of three antigens, human type IV collagen(CT IV), laminin(LN) and fibronectin(FN) were immunohistochemically determined in 72 cases of LSCC by using the corresponding monoclonal antibodies. The correlation of the intact continuance of ECM around the tumor nest with the cell differentiation, invasion mode and the regional lymph node metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma was evaluated.


RESULTS
In cases with poor histological differentiation, the defect of ECM was more severe than that in cases with high or middle histological differentiation(P < 0.01). Moreover, cases with diffuse invasion revealed lower ECM expression compared with cases with better tumor-host border (P < 0.01). There was a higher risk of regional lymph node metastasis among cases with poor ECM expression (P < 0.01). And there was a significant association between the defect of ECM and the lymph node metastasis(P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These observations indicates that testing the distribution and the expression of ECM seems to be useful to evaluate the histological grading of malignancy and the invasion mode of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to be helpful to prognosticate the frequency of regional lymph node metastasis.
Cao
Zhiwei
Z
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, First Clinical Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001.
Li
Xiaotian
X
Ren
Zhong
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005931:Glottis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness
D024141:Collagen Type IV; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin