Role of Type IV Collagen in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is most common malignancy affecting the oral cavity. It is characterized by invasiveness and migration of malignant cells to form metastases at distant sites which causes proteolytic destruction of basement membrane components. The major aspect of tumor cell invasion and metastasis is the interaction between cancer cells and basement membrane components such as collagen, proteoglycans, glycoproteins. Type IV collagen is main component of basement membrane that helps to maintain continuity and integrity of the basement membrane which is most affected during degradation processes by neoplastic cells. Multiple studies have shown expression of type IV collagen in OSCC as an early event in carcinogenesis and is used to study biological behaviour of tumor.