EXPRESSION OF THE ADHERENS JUNCTION PROTEIN VINCULIN IN HUMAN BASAL AND SQUAMOUS-CELL TUMORS - RELATIONSHIP TO INVASIVENESS AND METASTATIC POTENTIAL

The acquisition of an invasive or metastatic phenotype in malignant ne oplasms is often correlated with reduced cellular adhesiveness. We inv estigated the expression of the adhesion-associated cytoplasmic protei n, vinculin, in normal and neoplastic human squamous epithelia, as wel l as in metastases of squamous cell carcinomas, and correlated the res ults with invasiveness and metastatic potential. Tissue samples from v arious tumors were examined, including basal cell carcinomas (BCC), ke ratoacanthomas, and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). In addition, lymph node metastases from nine of the SCC were tested in this study. Our r esults indicate that most BCC, keratoacanthomas, and in situ SCC displ ay strong positive staining for vinculin. The level of immunolabeling for vinculin and its pattern of distribution in the low malignant, non metastasizing lesions was similar to those observed in normal squamous epithelia. In contrast, in SCC, which are invasive and possess metast atic potential, as well as in their metastases, vinculin labeling was negative or poor, irrespective of their degree of differentiation. In conclusion, poor vinculin labeling in tumors of squamous epithelial or igin examined here appears to be related to the metastatic potential o f the tumor. Vinculin immuno-staining of primary tumors originating in stratified squamous epithelia may thus be of value in helping to dete rmine the metastatic potential of these neoplasms. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.