AE1/AE3

This mixture of two antibodies works on formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue.

Immunohistochemical expression

AE1 reacts with most acidic (type I) cytokeratins (K10, 15, 16 and 19) while AE3 recognises all known basic (type II) cytokeratins.

This mixture of antibodies reacts with almost all epithelia without showing cross-reactivity with other intermediate filaments.

• Squamous cell carcinoma (including spindle cell variant)

• Adenocarcinoma

• • hypernephroma

  • hepatocellular carcinoma

• Transitional cell carcinoma

• Small cell carcinoma

• Carcinoid tumour

• Pleomorphic adenoma (epithelial component)

• Thymoma

• Mesothelioma (including sarcomatoid component)

• Chordoma

• Germ cell tumours, except seminoma

• Synovial sarcoma

• Epithelioid sarcoma

• Leiomyosarcomas may be positive

Diagnostic utility

• AE 1/3 is advantageous in the detection of lymph node micrometastases. It shows less frequent immunoreactivity with reticulum cells than do other pan-cytokeratins or Cam 5.21.

References

1Lerwill, M. F. (2004). "Current practical applications of diagnostic immunohistochemistry in breast pathology." Am J Surg Pathol 28(8): 1076-91.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop