Cytokeratins comprise a diverse group of intermediate filament proteins (IFPs) that are expressed as pairs in both keratinized and non-keratinized epithelial tissue. Cytokeratins play a critical role in differentiation and tissue specialization and function to maintain the overall structural integrity of epithelial cells and have been found to be useful markers of tissue differentiation, which is directly applicable to the characterization of malignant tumors. For example, many types of cancer cells express Cytokeratin 19 (CK19), an epithelial cytoskeletal protein within the suprabasal squamous epithelium. Cytokeratin 19 is a specific marker of moderate to severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ in oral cavity squamous epithelium, and measurement of Cytokeratin 19 may be a useful marker in diagnosing hepatoma. Cytokeratin 19 fragment levels in serum have been documented as a marker for lung cancer. Clinical investigations have suggested that serum CYFRA 21-1, a fragment of Cytokeratin 19, may be among the most useful tumor markers.
