Differential expression of extracellular matrix proteins and integrins in hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic liver disease.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules play an important role in the orderly development, differentiation and function of tissues. The interaction of ECM with heterodimeric transmembrane glycoproteins called integrins is thought to be an important factor in cell-cell and cell-substrate adhesions in tumours, tumour invasion and metastases. Purpose: To investigate ECM and adhesion molecules in hepatocellular and breast carcinomas, chronic hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis. Materials and methods: Frozen in liquid nitrogen and also paraffin-embedded biopsies from hepatocellular adenomas (3), well-differentiated (53) and poorly differentiated (19) hepatocellular carcinomas, lobular (3) and poorly differentiated (7) breast carcinomas, chronic hepatitis (10) and hepatic cirrhosis (10) were collected and investigated