Cytokeratin 7 Antibody

Cytokeratin-7 (CK7) is a member of the keratin gene family. The type II cytokeratins consist of basic or neutral proteins which are arranged in pairs of heterotypic keratin chains coexpressed during differentiation of simple and stratified epithelial tissues. CK7 is specifically expressed in the simple epithelia lining the cavities of the internal organs and in the gland ducts and blood vessels. It is found in simple glandular epithelia, and in transitional epithelium. Epithelial cells of the lung and breast both contain CK7, but some other glandular epithelia, such as those of the colon and prostate, do not. Because the protein is found in both healthy and neoplastic cells, antibodies to CK7 can be used in immunohistochemistry to distinguish ovarian and transitional cell carcinomas from colonic and prostate cancers, respectively. It is commonly used together with CK20 when making such diagnoses. [Wiki]