CYTOKERATINS AND TUMOR PROGRESSION IN THE UTERINE CERVIX

One of the most intensively studied issues in cervical pathology has b een the factor or factors associated with the progression of precancer ous cervical processes to invasive cancer. Since the predictive value of conventional cytology and histology is often unreliable, considerab le attention has been given to alternate markers for cervical carcinog enesis. Cytokeratins (Cks) are one such class of morphological markers with extensive potential in epithelial carcinogenesis. This paper dis cusses the role of Cks in malignancy and how their analyses can help u nderstand various phases in cervical carcinogenesis. It can be conclud ed that analysis of morphological markers such as Cks provides a more than useful complement to established histological procedures for elab orating tissue pathology and histogenetic pathways involved in tumor d evelopment.