[Demonstration of an epidermal SH-protease inhibitor in normal epithelium and in some human neoplasms--an immunological study (author's transl)].

Using a specific antiserum, it was possible to demonstrate (with the Ouchterlony-test, immunofluorescence and peroxidase-antiperoxidase reaction) that the epidermal thiolprotease inhibitor was present in all the squamous epithelia tested by us, e.g. oesophagus, vagina and portio. Immunological methods further showed that epidermoid carcinoma of the skin, squamoepithelial carcinomas of the portion and oesophagus, and squamoepithelial carcinoma of the lung contained an immunoreactive protein reminiscent of the epidermal protease. The immunoreactive protein typical of squamous epithelium was also visible in part of the anaplastic lung carcinomas, which means that the determination of the inhibitor may be of significance in the classification of lung tumors.