CYTOKERATIN -- A DIAGNOSTIC MOLECULE
Abstract
The term cytokeratin was first used in late 1970s by Franke et al. They
can be defined as proteins of keratin containing intermediate filaments
found in the intracytoplasmic cytoskeleton of epithelial tissue. Within
epithelial cells CK filament functions as components of the cytoskeleton
and cell contacts. They have been widely used for the detection of
different malignant and premalignant disorders. Over 32000 published
articles exist in the biomedical research literature that used the term
cytokeratin. The aim of this article to review the uses and method of
detection of cytokeratins in diagnosis.