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Keratins as markers that distinguish normal and tumor-derived mammary epithelial cells

Journal Article · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA)
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA (USA)

Keratin 5 (K5) mRNA and protein are shown to be expressed in normal mammary epithelial cells in culture and are absent from tumor-derived dell lines. To extend these findings, the full complements of keratins in normal, immortalized, and tumor cells were compared. It is shown here that normal cells produce keratins K5, K6, K7, K14, and K17, whereas tumor cells produce mainly keratins K8, K18, and K19. In immortalized cells, which are preneoplastic or partially transformed, the levels of K5 mRNA and protein are lower than in normal cells, whereas the amount of K18 is increased. Thus, K5 is an important marker in the tumorigenic process, distinguishing normal from tumor cells, and decrease K5 expression correlates with tumorigenic progression.

OSTI ID:
6073590
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA), Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America; (USA) Vol. 87:6; ISSN 0027-8424; ISSN PNASA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English