[The relationship between expression of basement membrane in squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and cervical lymph node metastasis].

Fifty seven cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were studied by immunohistochemical ABC method using type IV collagen and laminin antibody to investigate the relationship between expression and distribution of basement membrane in oral SCC and clinicopathologic characteristics and cervical lymph node metastasis. The distribution of basement membrane of oral SCC was discontinuous and in some cases the membranes disappeared. There was highly significant correlation between the staining patterns together with histologic differentiation degrees and cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). These indicate that the expression of baasement membrane in oral SCC may be a useful parameter for evaluation of tumor histologic differentiation and tumor invasion and metastasis.