Abstract
Fifteen supraglottic squamous-cell carcinomas were investigated for the immunohistochemical localization of the basement membrane components (BMCs), type IV collagen and laminin in the BM surrounding the cancer nest. Expression of the tumor supressor gene p53 and infection of huamn papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) were also examined in the cancer cells. A regular and continuous staining for BMCs was present, but p53 expression and HPV-16 infection were nondetectable, in normal suprragolottic epithelium. The distribution of BMCs was related to the lympho node metastasis (LNM) with a decreased immunostaining being evident in LMN-positive cancers. On the other hand, cancers showing suffiecient BMC deposition were poorly metastatic. Eight of 15 cancers (53%) exhibited elevated p53 expression and HPV-16E6 was detected in 4 of 15 (26%), one of which exhibited elevated p53 expression. Both the elevated p53 expression and the detection of HPV-16 E6 were found to correlate with poor distribution of BMCs surrounding the cancer nest. From the above, LMN may be more accurately diagnosed by these examinations.
