IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STAINING FOR TYPE-IV COLLAGEN AND LAMININ IN THE STROMA OF HUMAN PANCREATIC-CANCER

Fourteen human pancreatic cancer, six normal pancreatic, and four alco holic chronic pancreatitis tissue samples were examined by immunohisto chemistry with antitype IV collagen and antilaminin monoclonal antibod ies (MAb). The basement membranes of acinar, ductal, and endothelial c ells from all of the normal pancreatic and alcoholic chronic pancreati tis tissue samples were continuously immunostained, but the stroma was negatively immunostained by both antibodies. On the other hand, all 1 4 pancreatic cancer tissues showed irregular immunostaining on the bas ement membranes surrounding cancer cells, and positive fibrillar immun ostaining for type IV collagen in the stroma of the carcinomatous pare nchyma. Six of the 14 pancreatic cancer tissue samples also showed pos itive immunostaining for laminin in the stroma. The stromal type IV co llagen with or without laminin in human pancreatic cancer tissues may have originated from basement membranes degraded through cancer invasi on and proliferation.