Expression of various keratins in basal cell, metastatic, and squamous cell skin cancer
Kazantseva, I.A.; Khlebnikova, A.N.; Babaev, V.R.
Biulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny 118(9): 300-303
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0365-9615 PMID: 7529596 Document Number: 437385
Expression of keratin 8 and keratin 17 was studied in 53 cases of human basal cell skin carcinoma, 10 cases of metatypical carcinoma and 3 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. Indirect immunoperoxidase assay and monoclonal antibody method were used. Cells from basal cell carcinoma always expressed keratin 17 and, generally, keratin 8. Content of both keratins was significantly lower in the metatypical skin cancer cells. In squamous cell carcinoma, keratin expression was only observed in several visual fields around keratinization foci. Comparative analysis of specific staining intensity with a microspectrophotometer proved that the optical density of histological preparations from basal cell carcinoma was six to seven and ten to fourteen times higher than that of metatypical cancer and squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. It is suggested that these specific features of keratin expression might be used in differential diagnosis of skin cancer.