Integrin molecules: a clue to the non-metastasizing behaviour of basal cell carcinomas?

Does the integrin profile of basal cell carcinomas explain their non-metastasizing behaviour? Immunohistochemical Investigation of nodular (n = 31) and superficial (n = 17) tumours yielded a strong expression of alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 6, beta 1, and beta 3 subunits and a weak expression of alpha 4 subunits by the epithelial tumour component. alpha 5 subunits were focally detected in superficial basal cell carcinomas but not in the nodular type. Tumour cells were nearly devoid of alpha v subunits. The integrin profile of basal cell carcinomas does not differ essentially from that of metastasizing tumour varieties and cannot be regarded as a major reason for the non-metastasizing phenotype of basal cell carcinomas.