Immunohistochemical localization of laminin, collagen IV and fibronectin in dysplasias and neoplasms of the cervix uteri

The distribution of intrinsic components (Laminin and Type IV Collagen) and extrinsic component (Fibronectin) of the Basement Membrane (BM) has been studied in normal uterine cervix (16 cases), in cervical dysplasia (14 cases) and in invasive carcinoma (45 cases). We found that BM staining for Laminin and Type IV collagen is linear and continuous underlying normal and dysplastic epithelium (CIN 1-CIN 2), it shows minor breaks in continuity and alterations of linearity in situ carcinomas (CIN 3), and it disappears in microinvasive areas. In well differentiated invasive carcinomas only focal disruptions of BM around neoplastic nests is noted; in contrast, in moderately and poorly differentiated neoplasias, is found a progressive reduction and loss of staining for Laminin and Type IV Collagen. The results of this study suggest that the distribution patterns of BM intrinsic components are in relation to the histological grade of cervical neoplasias and their invasion ability. On the contrary Fibronectin doesn't show any distribution pattern related to the grade of cervical neoplasias, its immunostaining increased with the rise of both connective tissue stroma production and of vascularity.