SIMPLE CYTOKERATINS IN THE SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH LUNG-CANCER - RELATIONSHIP TO CELL-DEATH

An important role in differentiation and proliferation has been demons trated for the 20 cytokeratin (CK) polypeptides. The serum of 24 patie nts with biopsy-proven non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a simila r number of controls was examined for evidence of CK8 and CK18. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), all the control sera were n egative, but 9 of the 24 patients were positive (mean 2.62 ng/ml; rang e 1.4-5.8; P = 0.0036). Western blotting confirmed the results of the ELISA in all cases, and indicated full size CK polypeptides. Advanced stage disease patients were more likely to be seropositive (P = 0.0002 4). Biopsy specimens showed CK8 expression in all 24 cases by immunoch emistry and CK18 in 22 cases. This is the first study to demonstrate t hat a subgroup of NSCLC patients have intact CK8 and CK18 peptides in their serum, and their detection may correlate with advanced disease.