Summary
A series of 23 primary invasive and 7 metastatic carcinomas was examined by light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunofluorescence (IF), the latter employing an anti-actin antibody. The results were correlated with macroscopic features such as retraction and consistency. Stromal cells rich in actin, readily identified by IF in firm and retracted carcinomas, were rare or absent in neoplasms lacking these features. TEM established the myofibroblastic nature of these stromal cells. Alternate sections (LM, IF) of each neoplasm demonstrated that myofibroblasts were more numerous in “young” mesenchymal stroma than in densely sclerotic areas. The connective tissue adjacent to intraductal mammary carcinoma lacked myofibroblasts, suggesting that epithelial stromal invasion is required to evoke a myofibroblastic stromal response. Myofibroblasts which possess synthetic (type III collagen) and contractile properties may well contribute to the firm consistency and retraction which characterize many carcinomas. The induction of myofibroblasts might represent an important host stromal response directed toward containment of invasive and/or metastatic carcinoma. This response may be especially important in neoplasms with weak antigenicity and/or slow doubling times.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bolande RP (1979) Developmental pathology. Am J Pathol 94:623–683
Folkman J, Merler E, Abernathy C, Williams G (1971) Isolation of a tumor factor responsible for angiogenesis. J Exp Med 133:275–288
Folkman J (1975) Tumor angiogenesis: A possible control point in tumor growth. Ann Intern Med 82:96–100
Folkman J, Cotran R (1976) Relation of vascular proliferation to tumor growth. Int Rev Exp Pathol 16:207–248
Gabbiani G, Ryan GB, Majno G (1971) Presence of modified fibroblasts in granulation tissue and their possible role in wound contraction. Experientia 27:549–550
Gabbiani G, Hirschel BJ, Ryan GB, Statkov PR, Majno G (1972) Granulation tissue as a contractile organ: A study of structure and function. J Exp Med 135:719–734
Gabbiani G, Ryan GB, Lamelin J-P, Vassalli P, Majno G, Bouvier CA, Cruchand A, Lüscher EF (1973) Human smooth muscle autoantibody. Its identification as antiactin antibody and a study of its binding to “nonmuscular” cells. Am J Pathol 72:473–484
Gabbiani G, Trenchev P, Holborow FJ (1975) Increase of contractile proteins in human cancer cells. Lancet 2:796–797
Gabbiani G, Csank-Brassert J, Schneeberger J-C, Kapanci Y, Trenchev P, Holborow EJ (1976a) Contractile proteins in human cancer cells. Immunofluorescent and electron microscopic study. Am J Pathol 83:457–468
Gabbiani G, LeLous M, Bailey AJ, Bazin S, Delaunay A (1976b) Collagen and myofibroblasts of granulation tissue. A chemical, ultrastructural and immunological study. Virchows Arch B Cell Pathol 21:133–145
Garland LH, Coulsen W, Wollin E (1963) The rate of growth and apparent duration of untreated primary bronchial carcinoma. Cancer 16:694–707
Guber S, Rudolph R (1978) The myofibroblast. Surg Gynecol Obstet 146:641–649
Hirschel BJ, Gabbiani G, Ryan GB, Majno G (1971) Fibroblasts of granulation tissue: Immunofluorescent staining with antismooth muscle serum. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 138:466–469
Ioachim HL (1976) The stromal reaction of tumors: An expression of immune surveillance. J Natl Cancer Inst 57:465–470
Klein G (1973) Immunological surveillance against neoplasia. Harvey Lect 69:71–102
Lazarides E (1975) Immunofluorescence studies on the structure of actin filaments in tissue culture cells. J Histochem Cytochem 23:507–528
Macartney JC, Trevithick MA, Kricka L, Curran RC (1979) Identification of myosin in human epithelial cancers with immunofluorescence. Lab Invest 41:437–445
Macdonald I (1966) The natural history of mammary carcinoma. Am J Surg 111:435–442
Majno G, Gabbiani G, Hirschel BJ, Ryan GB, Statkov PR (1971) Contraction of granulation tissue in vitro: Similarity to smooth muscle. Science 173:548–550
Majno G (1979) The story of the myofibroblast. Am J Surg Pathol 3:535–542
Mussini J-M, Slabodsky-Brousse N, Henin D, Turpelin F (1977) Le myofibroblaste. Acquisitions récentes. Path Biol 25:447–484
Ohtani H, Sasano N (1980) Myofibroblasts and myoepithelial cells in human breast carcinoma. Virchows Arch A Path Anat and Histol 385:247–261
Ozzello L (1970) The epithelial-stromal junction of normal and dysplastic mammary glands. Cancer 25:586–600
Ozzello L (1971a) Ultrastructure of the human mammary gland. Pathol Ann 6:1–60
Ozzello L (1971b) Ultrastructure of intraepithelial carcinoma of the breast. Cancer 28:1508–1515
Rudolph R, Guber S, Suzuki M, Woodward M (1977) The life cycle of the myofibroblast Surg Gynecol Obstet 145:389–394
Seemayer TA, Schürch W, Lagacé R, Tremblay G (1979) Myofibroblasts in the stroma of invasive and metastatic carcinoma. Am J Surg Pathol 3:525–533
Seemayer TA, Lagacé R, Schürch W (1980a) On the pathogenesis of sclerosis and nodularity in nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease. Virchows Arch A Path Anat and Histol 385:283–291
Seemayer TA, Lagacé R, Schürch W, Thermo WL (1980b) The myofibroblast: Biological, pathological and theoretical considerations. Pathol Ann 15:443–470
Smuckler EA (1979) The biology of cancer. In: Tumor associated markers. Masson Publishing U.S.A. Inc., New York, p 20
Tremblay G (1979) Stromal aspects of breast carcinoma. Exp Molec Pathol 31:248–260
Wolf PL (1979) The importance in identifying tumor markers. In: Tumor associated markers. Masson Publishing U.S.A. Inc., New York, p 1
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schürch, W., Seemayer, T.A. & Lagacé, R. Stromal myofibroblasts in primary invasive and metastatic carcinomas. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 391, 125–139 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437591
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437591