Table 2a. Expression of α6 integrin in 40 normal and ovarian tumour tissues.

Histology	No. of patients	Epithelium	Basement membrane	Blood vessels
Normal	6	0 (6)	4 (1), 5 (4)	4 (4), 5 (1)
Benign	8	0 (7), 3 (1)	4 (6), 5 (2)	3 (3), 4 (2), 5 (3)
Grade 1	8	0 (5), 2 (3)	4 (4), 5 (4)	3 (3), 3 (3), 5 (2)
Grade 2	5	0 (2), 2 (1), 3 (2)	3 (1), 4 (2), 5 (2)	2 (3), 3 (2)
Grade 3	13	2 (6), 3 (7), 4 (1)	2 (3), 3 (3), 4 (3), 5 (5)	2 (6), 3 (5), 4 (3)

The extent of α6 integrin expression was scored in a blind fashion as 0 (<10%), 1 (11–25%), 2 (26–50%), 3 (51–75%), 4 (76–90%) and 5 (>90%). For each tissue, four sections were studied and the whole tissue was analysed. The values in parentheses indicate the number of tissues with the extent of staining indicated in the respective columns. For each tissue, four sections were studied and the entire section was analysed. Epithelial expression of α6 integrin was significantly higher in high-grade tumours compared to benign and grade 1 tumours and normal ovaries (χ²=27.41, df=12, P<0.05). In contrast, the basement membrane α6 integrin expression was lower in high-grade tumours (χ²=16.85, df=12, P<0.05), while no significant differences in the blood vessel expression of α6 integrin was evident.