Distribution of basement membrane antigens in human esophageal lesions: An immunohistochemical study

Abstract

The distribution of basement membrane components, type-IV collagen and laminin, was studied immunohistochemically in human samples of normal, hyperplastic, dysplastic and carcinomatous esophageal tissue. The expression of basement membrane components in normal, hyperplastic, and mildly and moderately dysplastic mucosa was characterized by a thick, continuous and linear staining pattern. In severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ, the basement membrane was thinner and occasionally discontinuous. The distribution of basement membrane in invasive carcinomas varied greatly; well-differentiated, cohesive tumors had a basement membrane, however, poorly-differentiated tumors showing irregular cords, or individual cell infiltration, lacked this membrane at the tumor-stromal interface. Many moderately-differentiated tumors showed probable immature assembly of basement membrane components. The expression of basement membrane was also influenced by the extent of stromal inflammation. The absence or presence (staining pattern) of basement membrane components in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma did not correlate with the survival rate, but did correlate with the histologic differentiation of epithelial organization.

Overexpression of CDC25B and LAMC2 mRNA and Protein in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Premalignant Lesions in Subjects from a High-Risk Population in China

“…LAMC2 protein expression is highly variable, but overexpression is seen in most invasive carcinomas (26 -28) except for breast (45) and prostate (46) cancer, where expression typically is lost. The altered protein expression patterns for LAMC2 identified in the present study are largely consistent with studies of different cancers (26 -28) and other studies of ESCC (25,35,47,48). The earliest (and smallest) of these published ESCC studies (47) This study did not examine the pattern of expression but rather categorized expression based on positive expression at the ''invasive front'' or interface between tumor and underlying normal tissue.…”

“…The altered protein expression patterns for LAMC2 identified in the present study are largely consistent with studies of different cancers (26 -28) and other studies of ESCC (25,35,47,48). The earliest (and smallest) of these published ESCC studies (47) This study did not examine the pattern of expression but rather categorized expression based on positive expression at the ''invasive front'' or interface between tumor and underlying normal tissue. However, Fukai et al (48) found that LAMC2 expression predicted survival in univariate but not in multivariate models, suggesting that LAMC2 was not an independent predictor of survival.…”

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Pathology and prognosis

“…In immunohistochemical studies using antibody against these components, the staining pattern was influenced not only by the tumor but also by stromal inflammation. Therefore the distribution of basement membrane did not correlate with the survival rate in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [48]. However, metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9, which identify type IV collagenase, are synthesized and secreted in tumor cells.…”

Esophageal Cancer Development: Crucial Clues Arising from the Extracellular Matrix

“…Additionally, it has been reported that laminin receptors are progressively overexpressed in ESCC from stage I to III, such as a 67 kDa laminin receptor [114], which reinforces the association of this glycoprotein and ESCC prognosis. Nonetheless, another study demonstrated that in invasive tumors, basement membranes were partially or completely lost, depending on inflammatory pattern and epithelial organization [118]. The correlation between lack of basement membranes, inflammatory reaction in situ, and EC progression was reinforced by studies that linked these findings with secretion of proteolytic enzymes produced by cancer cells [119].…”