Abstract
BackgroundThe 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.MethodsK8 expression was assessed upon immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies in cryosections of primary tumours of the head and neck area.ResultsK8 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.ConclusionK8 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.
Highlights
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
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
KFi8guexrper2ession in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas K8 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. (A) K8 was visualised by immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies in the indicated specimens of HNSCC, expression intensities are given as "no staining" (-), "weak staining" (+), "intermediate staining" (++), and "strong staining" (+++). (B) K8 staining intensities of tumour specimens are depicted as percentages of all specimens from one given origin
Summary
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. Cytokeratin 8 (K8) is a structural protein, which forms intermediate filaments within the cytoplasm of simple epithelial cells [1] as a dimer with CK18 [2]. K8/CK18 generate a stabilizing framework, which is cell shape determining and allows cells to cope with mechanical stress. Cytokeratin filaments further on represent a mesh of "paths" on which signalling molecules, metabolites, and pathogens can travel the cell in an orientated fashion. The regulation of the localization of K8 within cells and polymerization into intermediate filaments is dependent upon its phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of K8 at serine in position 73 (Ser73) is mediated by p38 under stress such as orthovanadate (page number not for citation purposes)
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