Synthesis and maturation of type I and type III collagens in endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Objective: The structure and distribution of type I and type III collagens in the extracellular matrix of malignant endometrium was evaluated for their roles in the development and progression of this neoplasm.

Study Design: Collagen synthesis and deposition in endometrial adenocarcinomas was determined by immunohistochemical analysis of type I and type III procollagen and verified by computer-assisted morphometry and in situ hybridization.

Results: In the stroma of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas increased intracellular collagen synthesis was observed in fibroblastic cells as well as increased extracellular formation of newly synthesized type I and type III procollagen.

Collagen formation in extracellular matrix of transplants of human transformed keratinocyte cell lines.

Background, Materials And Methods: The role of epithelial cell growth and neoplastic transformation on collagen formation and deposition in the extracellular matrix (ECM) was analyzed by culturing immortalized human epidermal cell lines and Ras-transformed benign and malignant clones on collagen gels as transplants. The lesions were analyzed for extent of growth and morphology of epithelial and mesenchymal components as well as synthesis and deposition of different collagens.

Results: Immortalized cell lines required up to 5 weeks of growth for a well-organized mesenchyme to develop; transplants of Ras-transformed benign clones needed 3 weeks and transplants of highly malignant clones only 2 weeks to form an organized stroma.