Abstract
Aim:
To investigate whether immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin 20 (CK20) and thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) is useful in distinguishing Merkel cell carcinomas (MCCs) from metastatic small cell carcinomas (SCCs).
Methods:
Eleven cases of MCC and 10 of lung SCC were stained for CK20 and TTF-1.
Results:
Ten of 11 MCCs stained with the antibody to CK20. None was positive for TTF-1. No SCC stained with anti-CK20 and all stained strongly with anti-TTF-1.
Conclusions:
The use of both anti-CK20 and anti-TTF-1 can reliably distinguish between MCC and metastatic SCC, thus avoiding the need for a detailed clinical investigation of patients with MCC in whom metastatic SCC must be excluded.
MeSH terms
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Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
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Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / diagnosis*
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Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / metabolism
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Carcinoma, Small Cell / diagnosis*
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Carcinoma, Small Cell / metabolism
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Carcinoma, Small Cell / secondary*
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Humans
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Immunoenzyme Techniques
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Intermediate Filament Proteins / metabolism
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Keratin-20
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Lung Neoplasms* / metabolism
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Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
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Skin Neoplasms / metabolism
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Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
Substances
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Biomarkers, Tumor
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Intermediate Filament Proteins
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KRT20 protein, human
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Keratin-20
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NKX2-1 protein, human
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Neoplasm Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1
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Transcription Factors