Expression of cell adhesion molecules alpha-2, alpha-5 and alpha-6 integrin, E-cadherin, N-CAM and CD-44 in renal cell carcinomas. An immunohistochemical study.

Renal cell carcinoma is known to metastasize early independent of tumour grade. Invasion of the renal vein plays an important role in the prognosis. Cell adhesion molecules have been investigated, including the expression of alpha-2, alpha-5, and alpha-6 integrin, E-cadherin, neural-cell adhesion molecule and CD-44 in 34 renal cell carcinomas, using the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase technique. Our results indicate a differential expression of these cell adhesion molecules (alpha-2, alpha-5 and E-cadherin) depending on histological type and tumour grade.