Studies of early invasive and intraepithelial squamous cell carcinomas using an antibody to type IV collagen

Using a monoclonal antibody that is specific for type IV collagen we have examined examples of actinically damaged skin, intraepithelial carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of varying degrees of differentiation for abnormalities in the basement membrane. In examples of intraepithelial carcinoma and the occasional early invasive carcinoma a residual type IV collagen framework is suggestive of tumour regression. Production of type IV collagen by some tumours supports the view that squamous cell carcinomas do not apparently require to destroy this basement membrane component in order to invade or to metastasize.