Cytokeratin-8 Staining Method

**Semantic type:** Laboratory Procedure

**Definition:** 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.

**Synonyms:** - CK8 Staining Method - Cytokeratin 8 Staining Method - KRT8 Staining Method - Keratin, Type II Cytoskeletal 8 Staining Method