Keratin 8 expression in head and neck epithelia.
BACKGROUND
The intermediate filament forming protein keratin 8 (K8) is a tumour-associated antigen, which was shown to be over-expressed in a variety of malignancies. Here, we present a study of K8 expression in squamous epithelia of the head and neck area, including normal mucosa, hyperplastic and dysplastic leukoplakia, carcinomas of different sub-localisations, and lymph node metastases.


METHODS
K8 expression was assessed upon immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies in cryosections of primary tumours of the head and neck area.


RESULTS
K8 expression was characteristic of transformed tissue and marked early stages of disease, i.e. dysplastic oral leukoplakia, but not normal or hyperplastic epithelium. With the exception of carcinomas of the larynx and the tongue, K8 expression also strictly differentiated carcinomas from normal epithelium of the same origin. Furthermore, K8high was characteristic of cells, which had detached from the sites of primary tumours and had been invading the surrounding tissue at the time point of surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
K8 is an excellent marker for head and neck malignancies, which allows for early detection as well as for visualisation of potentially disseminating tumour cells in vivo.
Matthias
Christoph
C
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Goettingen Medical School, Robert-Kochstr. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany. christoph.matthias@medizin.uni-goettingen.de
Mack
Brigitte
B
Berghaus
Alexander
A
Gires
Olivier
O
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D016616:Cryoultramicrotomy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053533:Keratin-8 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053533:Keratin-8