Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) play a role in the normal development and regeneration of tissues as well as in the biological behaviour of tumors. We studied the immunohistochemical expression of various CAMs, such as neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), its polysialylated isoform (PSA-NCAM), epithelial (E-) cadherin, and beta1 integrins (alpha2beta1, alpha5beta1, alpha6beta1) in a series of frozen specimens of 10 normal nerves, 5 axonal neuropathies, 26 benign Schwannomas and 2 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MNST). NCAM was expressed by non-myelinating Schwann cells from normal nerves and overexpressed by Schwann cells from patients with chronic axonal neuropathies and Schwannomas. The expression was lower in MNST. Expression of PSA-NCAM was heterogeneously displayed by Schwann cells from the various tissues studied. Anti E-cadherin immunoreactivity was present in myelin sheath in normal nerves and axonopathies. It was expressed in some Schwannomas especially in vestibular Schwannomas. Integrins VLA alpha2 and VLA alpha6 were widely expressed by Schwann cells from normal nerves, axonal neuropathies and Schwannomas but their expression was low in MNST. VLA alpha5 was not expressed by Schwann cells from normal nerve and Schwannomas but present in chronic axonal neuropathies and MNST. In addition VLA alpha6 was strongly expressed by perineurial cells. These data show that CAMs have a characteristic pattern of expression in normal nerve. Also, some CAMs are always expressed by Schwann cells but the expression of others differs in normal nerves versus axonopathies or tumors, suggesting a role of the microcellular environment in the regulation of CAM expression. Schwannomas have different pattern of expression than MNST.