Immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratins and epithelial membrane protein 2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its potential implications.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an aggressive disease and tends to involve surrounding tissues, and biomarkers for better management are yet to be identified. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty tissue samples with NPC diagnosis were were investigated using pan cytokeratin (CK) and epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) antibodies. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical expression of CK was identified in 144/150 (96%) and of EMP2 in 120/150 (80%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high loss of EMP2 in NPC, especially high grade examples. Loss of CK expression is also linked to high grade NPC types.