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Basement Membranes

VI. Synthesis by Epithelial Tumors of the Mouse¹

( Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan)

This is an extension of previous studies upon synthesis of basement membranes by epithelial cells; 2 breast carcinomas and a granulosa cell carcinoma, when grown in vitro in the absence of connective tissue elements, synthesized basement membranes. Antigenically these basement membranes were identical with each other and with the basement membranes adjacent to most epithelia in the mouse. Since 3 epithelia, mammary, granulosa, and parietal yolk sac, synthesize their basement membranes, the concept would seem to be established that epithelia, in general, secrete their basement membranes.

Synthesis of basement membranes by carcinomas probably represents maintenance of a normal function after malignant transformation. Accordingly basement membranes should not be considered part of the defensive mechanism of the host designed to resist neoplastic invasion.

¹ Supported in part by grants from the American Cancer Society Inc. (E-105) and the USPHS (CA-6113).

² American Cancer Society Professor of Pathology.

Received 12/ 4/64.