[Lysosomes in invasive laryngeal cancer].

The occurrence, distribution, morphology and enzymatic activity of lysosomes in malignant keratinocytes of laryngeal carcinoma was studied by electron microscopy and ultrastructural cytochemistry. Lysosomes can be observed in various forms: dense bodies, multivesicular bodies, myelin bodies and residual bodies. The acid phosphatase activity varied both with regard to intensity and staining pattern. Specific reaction product in lysosomes is present in the cell cortex and in cytoplasmic processes of basal carcinoma cells. Extra-cellular localization of acid phosphatase was also observed at the tumor-stroma junction. The enzyme cytochemical and morphological results are discussed in relations to current concepts of lysosomal enzymatic activity in tumor cells. The findings suggest, that extra-cellular secretion of lysosomal enzymes may play an important role in facilitating tumor invasion and metastasis.