頚胸境界部食道癌の合理的リンパ節郭清 下咽頭癌転移関連因子

Abstract

Biopsy materials were studied immunohistologically in terms of factors responsible for neck metastasis. These materials were obtained from patients with hypopharyngeal or laryngeal carcinomas. A continuous expression of type IV collagen in the basement membrane that surrounds cancer nests may indicate that neck metastasis is negative and prophylactic neck dissection is not mandatory. Negative expression of type IV collagen, on the contrary, does indicate a positive neck metastasis and is a definite indication of neck dissection for any N classifications.Some metalloproteinases that may effect the expression of type IV collagen were also evaluated immunohistologically using monospecific monoclonal antibodies. These include type IV collagenase and cathepsin B, D and G. Their expression was observed in some cases, but a mutual relation between them and type IV collagen was not clearly demonstrated.