[Role of immunohistochemical study of extracellular matrix components in the estimation of the malignant potential of adrenal pheochromocytomas].

The changes occurring in the extracellular matrix structure and composition greatly affect cell behavior. The present investigation has indicated that active tenascin-C expression is observed in malignant pheochromocytomas, suggesting the altered composition of the extracellular matrix, there is also activation of metalloproteinase-9 and cyclooxygenase-2, which play an important role in many biological processes, including the invasion and metastatic spread of tumor cells, as well as in neoangiogenesis. Benign pheochromocytomas display a slight immunopositive staining of these antigens.