Background |
This antibody is specific to the rod domain of human Cytokeratin 19 (CK19), a polypeptide of 40kDa. Its epitope maps between amino acid 312-335. Cytokeratin 19 is expressed in sweat gland, mammary gland ductal and secretory cells, bile ducts, gastrointestinal tract, bladder urothelium, oral epithelia, esophagus, and ectocervical epithelium. Cytokeratin 19 antibody reacts with a wide variety of epithelial malignancies including adenocarcinomas of the colon, stomach, pancreas, biliary tract, liver, and breast. Perhaps the most useful application is the identification of thyroid carcinoma of the papillary type, although 50%-60% of follicular carcinomas are also labeled. Cytokeratin 19 antibody is a useful marker for detection of tumor cells in lymph nodes, peripheral blood, bone marrow and breast cancer. |