IMPORTANCE OF THE BASEMENT-MEMBRANE FOR T UMOR-GROWTH - IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ASPECTS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON TUMORS OF THE HEAD AND NECK

This report presents the state of current knowledge regarding the impo rtance of basement membrane (BM) for the growth of benign and malignan t tumours with special emphasis on tumours of the head and neck. The B M forms a barrier that has to be destroyed by infiltrative tumour cell s. Recent immunohistochemical analyses have revealed both quantitative and qualitative changes in the BM composition following malignant tra nsformation of the epithelial cells, thereby allowing malignant ingrow th into the stroma. This BM pattern, however, may also allow an early diagnosis of tumour invasion. Additionally, carcinomas of the larynx d emonstrate a correlation between the amount of preserved BM deposition and the grade of tumour differentiation. This fact may also be import ant in tumour prognosis.