Project 3.1 of Interdisciplinary centre of clinical research

project management: PD Dr. Alexander Berndt, Institut of Pathology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany

cooperations: Institut of Pathology; HELIOS-Klinikum Erfurt; Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery / Plastic Surgery , Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Research Unit " Molecular Cell Biology", Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Core Unit Chip Applications (CUCA), Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy;

"Formation of migration supporting multi protein complexes including laminin-5 in the invasive front of oral squamous cell carcinoma - role in tumour cell activation and contribution to individual prognosis"

Laminin-5 (Ln-5, a3b3g2) as a component of the hemidesmosomal adhesion complex is part of normal epithelial basement membranes. Within the process of tissue remodelling there is a change in functional features of Ln-5 from an adhesion supporting to a migration promoting glykoprotein. Therefore a proteolytic processing and an extracellular deposition as well as an organization in the three dimensional matrix formation is required. An association of Ln-5 with other components of the provisional extracellular matrix, like fibronectin- oder tenascin-C-isofroms, as fibrillary organized multi protein complexes was described as a structural guidance to promote tumour cell migration in OSCC (oral squamous cell carcinoma). A quantitative detection of this "promigratory" state of organization in tumour ECM is suggested to permit better predictions in relation to probability of metastasis.

Aims of the study are:

1. analysis of the functional relevance of multi protein complexes in the invasive front of OSCC an their role in initiation or promotion of cell migration
2. verification of the hypothesis that the extent of promigratory matrix organization represents a relevant contribution to differentiation of individual prognosis.