Fig. 2

Immunohistochemical analysis of MMP14 expression in the tumour nest and CAFs at the metastatic LN.

MMP14 expression in LNs with ENE (a−c). At the ENE site, MMP14 expression in the tumour nest is higher than that in the intranodal tumour nest (a−c: black arrowheads show cancer nest inside the LN; red arrows show cancer nest at the ENE site). Intranodal tumour nest score was 0+; there was no CAFs (b). At the ENE site, the tumour nest had a score of 3+; CAFs was observed; and MMP14 was expressed in CAFs (c). Original magnification: a, 5× high power field (HPF); b and c, 20× HPF. ENE, extranodal extension; CAFs, cancer-associated fibroblasts; LN, lymph node