The distribution of type IV collagen in invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix

The presence of type IV collagen at the tumour/stromal interface of invasive carcinoma of the cervix was evaluated in 60 cases. It was assessed semi-quantitatively according to its staining characteristics, and expressed as: thick, with or without minimal discontinuity; thin, with or without moderate discontinuity; fragmentary or absent. In each case the tumour type was identified, the differentiation, growth pattern and peritumoural inflammatory infiltrate was graded and lymph node status established. There was, overall, a significant correlation between a paucity of type IV collagen and a poorer prognosis and an infiltrating growth pattern. There was a highly significant correlation for adenocarcinomas in relation to poor outcome, infiltrating growth pattern and lymph node metastases. By contrast, no statistically significant correlation was found between paucity of type IV collagen and the other parameters for either squamous or adenosquamous carcinomas. The presence of absence of type IV collagen may be a useful prognostic marker, particularly for adenocarcinomas, and may play a part in the invasive and metastatic process.