Immunohistochemical localisation of keratin in human lung tumours

Summary Antisera against total keratin extracts of human callus have been used to identify keratins in lung tumours of different histological type. Forty-three were classified by the WHO scheme. Keratin immunoreactive cells were identified in all 8 epidermoid carcinomas; 6 out of 12 large cell carcinomas; 2 out of 6 adenocarcinomas; 2 out of 15 small cell carcinomas and in the only muco-epidermoid carcinoma. These cases demonstrate the heterogeneity of phenotypic expression in lung tumours not recognisable without the use of immunohistochemical techniques.