KERATIN EXPRESSION IN NORMAL CERVICAL EPITHELIUM, CERVICAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA AND CERVICAL-CANCER

We have studied the keratin expression in normal and abnormal uterine cervix using the immunohistochemical method, Six commercially availabl e keratin antibodies (M 630, CAM 5.2, RKSE 60, 1C 7, LL 002 and RCK 10 8) were used to stain the cervical tissues. CAM 5.2 reacted with the i mmature metaplasia strongly and the mature metaplasia weakly. 1C 7 and LL 002 reacted with the mature metaplasia strongly, compared to their reactivities in immature metaplasia. These results supported the idea that when reserve cells transform into squamous metaplasia, keratin 8 ceases to be expressed, and the synthesis of keratins 13 and 14 is in itiated. The expression of keratin 8 was increased up to 77% of CIN II I, compared to 15% of CIN I and II. About 90% of the squamous cell car cinoma contained keratin 8. Based on this observation, we hypothesized that the CIN lesions with expression of keratin 8 are progressive int o cervical cancer. With respect to the keratin expression of endocervi cal adenocarcinoma, keratins 8 and 19 were found in all the cases, alt hough keratins 5, 10, 13 and 14 were not found. This result indicated that the endocervical adenocarcinoma develops from the columnar cells.