Expression of claudins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 in various types of tumours

Abstract

The results show that claudins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 can be used as markers for epithelial differentiation and to distinguish epithelial neoplasms from lymphomas and selectively also from soft tissue and naevocytic lesions. Since these claudins show type-specific differential expression in epithelial tumours, they may also be of some value in distinguishing different epithelial tumours from each other. Additionally, claudin 5 shows promise as a marker for endothelial lesions compared with other soft tissue lesions.