α5 Integrin distribution and TGFβ1 gene expression in supraglottic carcinoma: Their role in neoplastic local invasion and metastasis

✍ Scribed by Domenico Vitolo; Luciano Ciocci; Paola Ferrauti; Elena Cicerone; Andrea Gallo; Marco De Vincentiis; Carlo D. Baroni

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 354 KB
• Volume: 22
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0347(200001)22:1<48::aid-hed8>3.0.co;2-l

✦ Synopsis

Background. Head and neck carcinomas are characterized by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) producing cytokines. Adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix proteins (ECMPs), and cytokines regulate cell-cell and cell-ECMPs interactions. We investigated the distribution of these proteins to contribute to better understanding of their role in local tumor invasion and metastasis.

Methods. Distribution of integrins, laminin, type IV collagen, tenascin, and fibronectin was immunohistochemically evaluated in 13 supraglottis carcinomas. Cytokines gene expression was assessed by reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results. Neoplastic cells were ␣2␤1, ␣3␤1, ␣4␤1, ␣5␤1 and ␣6␤1 positive. Normal and metaplastic epithelium was ␣5␤1 negative; the stroma of primary and metastatic tumors was tenascin and fibronectin positive. TGF␤1 and IFN␥ gene expression was observed in the majority of tumors.

Conclusions. Because TGF␤1 is known to down-modulate immune processes and to increase ␣2␤1, ␣5␤1, and tenascin distribution, we propose that their expression in neoplastic cells of supraglottis carcinoma might represent an immune-related process able to help tumor growth and progression.