Cytokeratins as epithelial differentiation markers in premalignant and malignant oral lesions.

The keratin expression pattern in oral stratified epithelium is related to the cellular differentiation level. The normal pattern shows the keratin pair K5 and K14 in the stratum basale whereas K1 and K10, or K4 and K13, are the two pairs associated with differentiating suprabasal cells. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to individual keratins (K10, K13 and K14) were used in a two-color immunofluorescence staining method to study their coexpression in single cells. Altered keratin expression in premalignant and malignant lesions indicated abnormal differentiation. Monospecific keratin antibodies were suggested to be useful for evaluation of epithelial differentiation changes in oral dysplasias and oral squamous cell carcinomas.