[Immunohistochemical analysis of 42 renal cell carcinomas and one oncocytoma with mono- and polyclonal antibodies against vimentin and cytokeratin]

Abstract

42 renal cell carcinomas and 1 oncocytoma were investigated by means of immunofluorescence (including double immunofluorescence) using a panel of mono- and polyclonal antibodies to vimentin and cytokeratins. In all tumors except chromophobe cell renal carcinoma (CCRC) and oncocytoma generally a coexpression of vimentin and cytokeratins could be demonstrated; however, the intermediate filament expression was often very heterogeneous with regard to the distribution of vimentin and cytokeratins in general, depending on the mono- and polyclonality of the antibodies and on the areas of a tumor investigated. In CCRC and oncocytoma all tumor cells contained cytokeratin filaments. In addition, as revealed by double immunofluorescence, in only occasional tumor cells we could demonstrate vimentin.