title: Coexpression of keratin- and vimentin-type intermediate filaments in human metastatic carcinoma cells.
abstract: Metastatic tumor cells of epithelial origin present in effusions from human serous cavity fluids (ascites or pleural fluid) were examined for their intermediate-sized filament types by using antibodies to keratin, vimentin, and desmin in the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Solid epithelial tumors (both primary carcinomas and their metastases) contain keratin intermediate-sized filaments exclusively. However, when these cells are present in ascitic or pleural fluid, they also express vimentin, which occurs in a fibrillar organization. The possible effects of this additional, but temporary, cytoskeleton on metastatic growth or aggressiveness (or both) are discussed.
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014746:Vimentin
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins