FIBRONECTIN, LAMININ, TYPE-IV COLLAGEN DISTRIBUTION, AND MYOFIBROBLASTIC STROMAL REACTION IN AGGRESSIVE AND NONAGGRESSIVE BASAL-CELL CARCINOMA

The stromal myofibroblastic reaction and extracellular matrix in a ser ies of 19 morphologically and clinically aggressive basal cell carcino mas (BCC) were examined by an immunohistochemical staining panel for m yofibroblastic markers (vimentin, actin, and desmin), for basement mem brane components (laminin and type IV collagen), and for fibronectin. Results were compared with a series of 19 nonaggressive BCC. The aggre ssive BCC showed discontinuous staining for laminin and type IV collag en, a marked myofibroblastic response, and increased stromal fibronect in. Conversely, the nonaggressive BCC showed a continuous basement mem brane and a total lack of staining for fibronectin and myofibroblastic markers in all but three cases. This report suggests that a combined analysis of extracellular matrix components and myofibroblastic marker s may be useful for evaluating the clinical behavior including the met astatic capability of aggressive BCC.