C. Lugassy et al., Tumor microvessels in melanoma express the beta-2 chain of laminin. Implications for melanoma metastasis, J CUT PATH, 26(5), 1999, pp. 222-226
The ultrastructural localization of an amorphous matrix to the interface be
tween microvessel endothelium and tumor cells has been recently reported in
a series of melanomas. Laminin expression as documented by immunohistochem
istry was localized to microvessels in melanomas showing the amorphous matr
ix. In order to identify more precisely the type of laminin present in this
amorphous material, immunostaining was carried out on cryostat sections fr
om 16 human melanoma specimens. Four murine monoclonal antibodies directed
against the alpha-3, beta-2, beta-3 and gamma-2 laminin chains were employe
d. In the melanomas studied, alpha 3, beta 3 and gamma 2 laminin chains sho
wed only minimal focal vascular positivity. In contrast, the beta 2 (16/ 16
cases) laminin chain exhibited a consistent positivity in an angiocentric
pattern about tumor microvessels. In all melanomas, some tumor cells seemed
to spread along the abluminal surface of the small vessels, exhibiting a p
ericytic location, particularly along the intra-tumoral projections formed
by the beta 2 laminin chain. Given the role of laminin in migration and tum
or progression, the results suggest: a role of the beta 2 laminin chain in
melanoma spread, promoting tumor migration along the abluminal surface of v
essel, a phenomenon which has been termed extra-vascular migratory metastas
is.