Cytokeratin 19 fragment in serum and tissues of patients with pancreatic diseases.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study has shown that increased serum levels of cytokeratin 19 fragment reflect increases in the size of the pancreatic carcinomas, although the sensitivity for detecting small pancreatic carcinomas was low.


BACKGROUND
Cytokeratin is a member of the intermediate family of filaments in epithelial cells. The cytokeratin 19 fragment is an acidic cytokeratin, which is found in various epithelial tissues. Recently, the serum fragment of cytokeratin 19 has been measured and found to be a good marker for squamous cell carcinoma. Cytokeratin 19 is known to be expressed in normal pancreatic tissues and pancreatic carcinomas. However, serum cytokeratin 19 levels in pancreatic diseases have not been precisely detailed.


METHODS
In this study, we evaluated serum cytokeratin 19 levels and the immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratin 19 in various pancreatic diseases.


RESULTS
Serum cytokeratin 19 levels were high (> 2 ng/mL) in 51 of 99 (52%) cases of pancreatic duct cell carcinoma, but were low in all 24 cases of chronic pancreatitis and in 7 cases of islet cell tumors. The sensitivity of the cytokeratin 19 assay increased with increased size of the pancreatic carcinomas, but was not influenced by the presence of obstructive jaundice. Immunohistochemical studies using a monoclonal anticytokeratin 19 antibody showed that staining for cytokeratin was positive in all 38 of the pancreatic carcinomas examined and in 2 of 6 islet tumors.
Ohshio
G
G
Department of Surgery, Kyoto University, Japan.
Imamura
T
T
Okada
N
N
Yamaki
K
K
Suwa
H
H
Imamura
M
M
Sakahara
H
H
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D007633:Keratins