Anti-cytokeratin 5/6: a positive marker for epithelioid mesothelioma.

Abstract

AIMS:

Previous studies using frozen material have suggested that cytokeratin 5 is expressed by pleural mesothelioma but not by adenocarcinoma. In the present study, reactions for cytokeratins 5 and 6 were investigated in 33 pleural mesotheliomas and 27 secondary adenocarcinomas of the pleura using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material and a commercially available antibody (anti-cytokeratin 5/6).

METHODS AND RESULTS:

All of the adenocarcinomas originated in the peripheral lung. The epithelioid component of the mesotheliomas gave a strongly positive reaction: the reaction in sarcomatoid or desmoplastic areas was absent or weak. Twenty-two of the adenocarcinomas were negative, in four there was a weak, equivocal reaction, and in one there was patchy positivity.

CONCLUSIONS:

We conclude that this antibody is potentially a useful positive marker for the identification of the epithelioid variant of mesothelioma in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material.

• Authors: J Clover, J Oates, C Edwards
• Journal: Histopathology (Histopathology) Vol. 31 Issue 2 Pg. 140-3 (Aug 1997) ISSN: 0309-0167 [Print] England
• PMID: 9279564 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Keratins

Topics

• Antibodies, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Humans
• Keratins (analysis, immunology)
• Mesothelioma (metabolism, pathology)
• Pleural Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)