CYTOKERATIN AND VIMENTIN EXPRESSION IN NORMAL EPITHELIUM AND SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMAS OF THE LARYNX

The immunohistochemical expression patterns of cytokeratin polypeptide s and vimentin were Investigated in normal epithelia and squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx with special emphasis an tumor grading. Duri ng malignant transformation of epithelial cells, the cytokeratin expre sssion patterns changed, depending on the differentiation grade of the carcinomas. In low-grade carcinomas, the expression patterns were clo se to those of the normal epithelium. With increasing tumor grade, the re was decreased expression of stratification cytokeratins and increas ed expression of basal cell, simple cell and hyperproliferation-relate d cytokeratins. Increasing tumor grade was also associated with the ex pression of vimentin, a cytoskeletal protein of mesenchymal cells. No relationship was found between vimentin expression and the presence of lymph-node metastases.