[Anti-human collagenase type IV expression in preneoplastic lesions and early squamous cell lung carcinoma]

Proteolytic enzymes like collagenase type IV are relevant to the destruction of matrix-components within the scope of invasive tumor growth. Preneoplastic lesions of the bronchial mucosa and early squamous cell carcinomas were investigated immunohistochemically using anti-human-collagenase type IV monoclonal antibodies due to the question of enzymatic proteolysis of basement membrane structures. With increasing malignant epithelial transformation an increase of collagenase type IV expression was observed in single atypical cells of severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and early cancer of the bronchus. Collagenase type IV expression can be evaluated as enhanced proteolytic potency for degradation of matrix structures of the basement membrane as one factor for early infiltration in preneoplastic lesions up to early squamous cell carcinomas of the lung.