Three-dimensional visualization of perlecan-rich neoplastic stroma induced concurrently with the invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma

摘要

We have demonstrated the induction of perlecan-rich stroma of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on and after its start of invasion. However, it remains unknown how such a neoplastic stroma is actually arranged in tumor tissues. METHODS: To this end, tissue microarray samples, in which keratin and perlecan were contrastively labeled by immunohistochemistry, were three-dimensionally analyzed using digital images and image analysis software to demonstrate the relationship between SCC foci and the perlecan-positive stromal space or that between carcinoma in situ (CIS) and invasive SCC foci. RESULTS: The three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction demonstrated three kinds of perlecan profiles for inside (I) and outside (O) areas of the carcinoma cell focus: mode I, I+/O ; mode 2,1+/O+; and mode 3, I/O+. Mode I was seen in CIS as well as SCC tumor massifs in the surface part. Mode 2 was seen in small SCC foci, which seemed isolated in 2D sections but were mostly continuous with the tumor massif in 3D reconstructions. Mode 3 was limited to small SCC foci, which were truly segregated from the tumor massif.