Abstract: In order to investigate the expression of different keratins, filagrin, and desmoplakins in some skin tumors, a panel of anti-epidermal monoclonal antibodies (AE), serial sections of frozen biopsy specimens and ABC immunohistochemical technique were employed. Results are as follows: ①The reaction of AE1 with basal keratinocytes decreased or disappeared in Bowen's disease, mycosis fungoides (MF), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), while the prickle and granular keratinocytes reacted with AE1 and the tumor cells of SCC, Paget's disease and Bowen's disease reacted with AE1. ②AE3 did not react with the granular keratinocytes in verrucous neavus and seborrheic keratosis. ③AE14 did not react with the basal keratinocytes in Paget's disease, while it reacted with the prickle, granular keratinocytes in keratoaeanthoma and seborrheic keratosis. AE14 reacted with the peripheral basaloid cells of BCC cancer nest itself, while it did not react with the tumor cells of SCC. ④AE21 did not react with the granular keratinocytes in pigmented neavus and the tumor cells of BCC and SCC, but the tumor cells of both BCC and SCC reacted with AE22. The possible mechanism and clinical significance of the abnormal expression were also discussed.

Key words: Keratin, Antibodies, monoclonal, Skin neoplasms