[Immunohistochemical distribution of keratin in malignant tumors of eyelids]

The type and distribution of keratins (K) in malignant tumors of eyelids were examined immunohistochemically to understand the pathomechanism of intercellular interactions. All of the tumor cells in the basal cell carcinoma were positive for K14, which is specific for basal cells, whereas all of them were negative for K10, which is specific for suprabasal layers in stratified squamous epithelia. These findings suggest that basal cell carcinoma may consist of uniform, basal cell-like tumor cells. On the other hand, the squamous cell carcinoma and sebaceous carcinoma, which were positive for either K14 or K10 to varying extent, may consist of various tumor cells with different types and degrees of differentiation. In these tumors, K14 was frequently detected throughout the border cells of the tumor mass. Apoptotic bodies were detected at the region where this continuous distribution of K14 was interrupted. These findings may help to clarify the pathomechanism of the interactions between the tumor cells and stromal cells.