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An immunohistochemical technique to detect cytokeratin 8, an intermediate filament protein, using monoclonal antibody to cytokeratin 8. The antibody is useful in the detection of adenocarcinomas, mesotheliomas, and certain squamous epithelia-derived carcinomas. Specific combinations of cytokeratin peptides are associated with certain epithelial cells, and are therefore useful in the characterization of poorly differentiated carcinoma. The test is used as a clinically significant indicator in distinguishing carcinoma from malignant tumors of non-epithelial origin, such as lymphoma, sarcoma, and melanoma.
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