[Immunohistochemical study on keratin no. 8, 18 and 19 expression of carcinoid tumors]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate keratin expression in neuroendocrine cells and carcinoid tumor of the gastrointestinal tract and lung. Neuroendocrine cells in the lung and the gastrointestinal tract reacted with low-molecular keratin strongly, but not with high-molecular keratin. The low-molecular keratin expression of carcinoid tumor in the lung and the gastrointestinal tract, which varied in degree, were identical to that of neuroendocrine cells. Keratin 8 and 18 were found abundantly in neuroendocrine tumor and carcinoid tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, and in a lesser amount in carcinoid tumor of the lung, whereas keratin 19 was found in all cases with variable amounts. Based on these results, the combination of antibodies for several types of keratin is useful for examining keratin expression as a marker of epithelium in carcinoid tumor.