Immunohistochemical studies to detect keratins were performed on basal cell carcinoma of the skin (n=9), using monoclonal antibodies to keratins-KL1, K8.12, K4, K7, K8, K10, K13, K17, K18 and K19-employing immunohistochemical techniques. Differential expression of keratins in basal cell carcinoma and tumor of skin, hair follicle, sebaceous gland and sweat gland were evaluated.
Basal cells in skin epidermis and hair follicle showed positive immunostaining for MoAb K8.12, and spinous cells and follicular epithelial cells were positive for MoAb KL1, K8.12, K10 and K17. Tumor cells of basal cell carcinoma expressed K8.12 and K17, but other keratins remained unstained. The pattern of expression of keratins using those MoAbs in basal cell carcinoma showed different expression for keratin in squamous cell carcinoma of oral mucosa.