Application of anticytokeratin antibodies to colon carcinomas

Mouse monoclonal anticytokeratin antibodies (BA 16; BA 17; CO 8.2; C18.2; C 10; LE 41) were used for examination of 5 patients with large bowel carcinoma ("left colon") using the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. For each case cryostat sections were examined from three localizations: primary tumour of large bowel, mucosa in the vicinity of the tumour, and mucosa of distant part from the primary tumour. The antibodies BA 16 and BA 17 produced strongly positive results. Antibody C 18.2 seems to be less suitable for detection of cytokeratin expression in this part of large bowel. The obtained results indicate that no significant differences were found in expression of cytokeratins in the three localizations by histologically well or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma.