[Laminin distribution in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus--an immunohistochemical study].

Laminin is one of the important basement membrane components which influences the biological activities of the cells. Some cancer cells can either produce or destroy basement membrane. Twenty-four cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were stained for laminin by immunohistochemical ABC method. Nineteen cases showed positive cytoplasmic laminin with discontinuous, thin and irregular basement membrane. At the site of basement membrane destruction, cancer cells had invaded into the stroma and small blood vessels. Some cancer cells were positive for laminin in 4 cases with lymph node metastasis of squamous cancer. This study indicates that some cancer cells can synthesize such extracellular matrix components as laminin. Immunohistochemical staining for laminin may be helpful in detecting the microinvasion and micrometastasis of cancers.