IMMUNOCHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION OF INTERMEDIATE-SIZED FILAMENTS IN HUMAN NEOPLASTIC-CELLS - A DIAGNOSTIC-AID FOR THE SURGICAL PATHOLOGIST

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  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 104  (3) , 206-216
Abstract
Forty-three tumors were investigated by immunofluorescence with the use of antibodies against the following classes of intermediate-sized (10 nm) filament proteins: cytokeratins, vimentin, and desmin. In general, the immunologic features of tumor-cell intermediate filaments are those present in their tissue of origin. During neoplastic transformation, there are no major changes in the synthesis of the type of intermediate filament proteins when compared to normal tissues. Immunologic identification of these proteins furnishes the surgical pathologist with a quick and clear-cut way to differentiate tumors of mesenchymal origin from epithelial neoplasms, and in particular to distinguish between malignant lymphomas and lymph node metastases of undifferentiated carcinomas.