Cytokeratin 19 expression in normal endometrium and in low-grade endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.

The low-molecular-weight cytokeratin (CK) protein CK19 has been shown to have diagnostic use and prognostic significance in some types of human malignancy, but little is known of its distribution in normal endometrial mucosa or in endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma. However, we had observed that CK19 appeared to selectively label invasive tumor areas showing microcystic, elongated, and fragmented ("MELF") changes. Therefore, CK19 expression was assessed in 15 hysterectomy specimens showing normal proliferative, secretory, or atrophic endometrial appearances, and in 26 endometrioid adenocarcinoma cases with areas of MELF-type invasion.

Correlation between invasive pattern and immunophenotypic alterations in endocervical adenocarcinoma.

Aims: To assess the immunophenotypic changes associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in endocervical adenocarcinoma, and correlate the findings with tumour morphology including growth pattern.

Methods And Results: Twenty-seven endocervical adenocarcinomas were studied using a panel of immunohistochemical markers to vimentin, cyclin D1, E-cadherin, beta-catenin, p16 protein and cytokeratin 7. There were 24 moderately differentiated and three poorly differentiated tumours.