Adhesive and invasive features in gliomas

This study aims at the in situ identification of factors mediating glioma cell invasion requiring adhesion, extracellular matrix degradation, and migration. Forty-five gliomas (astrocytomas, glioblastomas, oligodendrogliomas, and mixed gliomas) were investigated for the immunohistochemical expression of the membrane protein CD44s, the basal lamina proteins laminin, collagen IV, and fibronectin, the lectin galectin-3 recognizing tenascin and N-CAM, as well as for the matrix-degrading enzymes metalloproteinases MMP-2, MMP-9, and cathepsin D. Besides vessels expressing basal lamina proteins, tenascin, MMP-2, MMP-9, and galectin-3, tumor cells revealed strong immunoreactivity for CD44s, tenascin, galectin-3, and N-CAM, which was restricted to solid tumor masses. Single invading cells displayed distinct expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, also found in solid tumor areas, as well as of cathepsin D. Restricted expression of CD44s, galectin-3, tenascin, and N-CAM in solid tumor masses seems to contribute to homotypical tumor cell adhesion. However, switching to an invasive phenotype, single tumor cells lack this expression pattern and acquire degrading and phagocytic activities by expressing cathepsin D, MMP-2, and MMP-9, which are also expressed by solid tumor masses facilitating the loosening and invasion of single neoplastic cells. The blocking of these factors may be of potential benefit in anti-invasive therapy.