Collagen

There are multiple types of collagen, divided into two major classes:

Immunohistochemical expression

Diagnostic utility

Type IV is useful  in the distinction of in-situ from (micro)invasive carcinoma. In soft tissues, complete basement membranes form around endothelial, smooth muscle and Schwann cells: antibodies against laminin and collagen IV are useful for the identification of these lineages.

Type VII is associated with squamous differentiation of carcinomas.

References

1Diagnostic Immunohistochemistry edited by Professor D. J. Dabbs, page 70

This page last revised 21.12.2001.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop