Cytokeratin 5/6 antibodies are antibodies that target both cytokeratin 5 and cytokeratin 6.[1] These are used in immunohistochemistry, often called CK 5/6 staining,[2] including the following applications:
Until recently the diagnostic method predominantly depended on identifying antibodies' responses that are positive for adenocarcinoma and negative for mesothelioma.[3]
Cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6) is a biomarker that has emerged as a valuable tool in distinguishing epithelioid pleural mesothelioma from metastatic adenocarcinoma. In a study comparing its effectiveness with other markers, CK5/6 showed high sensitivity, staining positively in 92% of epithelioid pleural mesothelioma cases. In contrast, only 14% of metastatic adenocarcinomas were positive for CK5/6. Cytokeratin 5/6 also stains reactive mesothelium, which limits its specificity. Overall, CK5/6, along with other markers like calretinin and thrombomodulin, demonstrates high sensitivity for epithelioid mesothelioma, making it a valuable tool in diagnostic pathology.[4]