Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Tissue Engineering of Tumor Stromal Microenvironment with Application to Cancer Cell Invasion
Published on: March 18, 2014
Expression of type III collagen correlates with poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Karuna Kumari1, Snehashish Ghosh1, Shankargouda Patil2
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Aim:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate, compare, and correlate the types of collagen fibers seen in different grades of oral cancer.
Methods:
Thirty cases of histologically-diagnosed, well-, moderately-, and poorly-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were retrieved from the archives of the Institute. Collagen was evaluated using picrosirius red stain and immunohistochemical analysis of the antibody to type III collagen. A correlation between these findings and the grade of OSCC was evaluated.
Results:
Collagen fibers showed a change in birefringence ranging from reddish-orange to greenish-yellow in well- to poorly-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma. The findings were statistically significant for polarizing colors observed in grades of OSCC (P<.001). Immunohistochemical staining intensity of type III collagen changed from weak to strong as grade increased for OSCC, and was also statistically significant (P<.001).
Conclusion:
In the present study, tumor progression reflected a change in collagen present, from type I to type III. Determination of the type of collagen in different grades of OSCC can facilitate therapeutic targeting of molecules responsible for invasion and progression of oral cancer.
Related Concept Videos
Type IV Collagen of Basal Lamina
A type IV collagen molecule has six alpha chains which can...
Fibril-associated Collagen
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...
Phases of Wound Repair
Formation of Blood Clot
In case of deep injuries, trauma to blood vessels results in blood loss. In the meantime, phospholipids released from the ruptured endothelial cellular membrane are converted into arachidonic...
Collagens are the Major Structural Proteins of ECM
Connective tissue proper includes loose...

