Type I collagen synthesis parallels the conversion of keratinocytic intraepidermal neoplasia to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: The Journal of pathology Vol. 204; no. 3; pp. 333 - 339
• Main Authors: van Kempen, Léon CLT, Rijntjes, Jos, Claes, An, Blokx, Willeke AM, Gerritsen, Marie-Jeanne P, Ruiter, Dirk J, van Muijen, Goos NP
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01-11-2004; Wiley
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma in Situ - metabolism; Carcinoma in Situ - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - metabolism; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - pathology; Collagen Type I - biosynthesis; cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma; Epidermis - pathology; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Extracellular Matrix - pathology; Fibroblasts - physiology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry - methods; In Situ Hybridization - methods; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Keratinocytes - pathology; keratinocytic intraepidermal neoplasia; matrix remodelling; Medical sciences; myofibroblast differentiation; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; RNA, Messenger - analysis; RNA, Neoplasm - analysis; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; type I collagen; Squamous cell carcinoma; Myofibroblast; Epidermis; type I collagen; Malignant tumor; myofibroblast differentiation; Conversion; matrix remodelling; keratinocytic intraepidermal neoplasia; Anatomic pathology; Synthesis; Collagen type I; Extracellular matrix; Skin; cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma; Differentiation
• ISSN: 0022-3417; 1096-9896
• DOI: 10.1002/path.1659

Neoplastic progression of solid tumours is often characterized by a simultaneous increase in matrix protein (eg collagen) synthesis and degradation, and results in the formation of a tumour stroma. At the tumour periphery, this process is believed to facilitate angiogenesis and invasive growth of tumour cells. In various types of carcinoma, differentiation of fibroblasts towards myofibroblasts is thought to play an important role in extracellular matrix remodelling as their emergence coincides with architectural changes in the tumour stroma. Here, distinct architectural changes in collagen fibres are reported in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) with respect to normal skin and precursor lesions, ie keratinocytic intraepidermal neoplasia (KIN). Simultaneously, type I collagen mRNA was observed in fibroblasts in close proximity to cSCC lesions (19/19) but only in 2 of 10 KIN lesions tested. Interestingly, whereas emerging of myofibroblasts correlated with reduced differentiation of cSCCs, it was not a prerequisite for type I collagen synthesis. These data indicate that type I collagen synthesis by fibroblasts parallels the malignant transformation of human KIN to cSCC. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.