Anti-human collagenase type IV expression in preneoplastic lesions and early squamous cell lung carcinoma
Fisseler-Eckhoff, A.; Müller, K.M.
Verhandlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pathologie 77: 287-291
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0070-4113 PMID: 7511299 Document Number: 420529
Proteolytic enzymes like collagenase type IV are relevant to the destruction of matrix-components within the scope of invasive tumor growth. Preneoplastic lesions of the bronchial mucosa and early squamous cell carcinomas were investigated immunohistochemically using anti-human-collagenase type IV monoclonal antibodies due to the question of enzymatic proteolysis of basement membrane structures. With increasing malignant epithelial transformation an increase of collagenase type IV expression was observed in single atypical cells of severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and early cancer of the bronchus. Collagenase type IV expression can be evaluated as enhanced proteolytic potency for degradation of matrix structures of the basement membrane as one factor for early infiltration in preneoplastic lesions up to early squamous cell carcinomas of the lung.