Carcinoma of the cervix: deficiency of nexus intercellular junctions.

Intercellar junctions where cell membranes are in intimate contact (nexuses) are very abundant in the epithelium of normal human cervix. Squamous carcinoma cells are deficient in nexuses although a rare nexus is seen. Nexuses may be involved in normal growth regulation, while a deficiency of nexuses may be related to the invasive property of malignant growth.