The management of epithelial dysplastic spread around an oral squamous cell carci-noma is very important, particularly intraoperatively. Both cytokeratin (CK) 14 and CK19 are believed to be involved in the development of precancerous lesions, and their expression profiles are quite specific in these and early cancer lesions. Here, expression of CK13, 14, 17, and 19 was investigated in a rat model of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide-induced tongue cancer during a series of carcinogenetic processes to determine their value in assessing the features of epithelial dysplastic spread around a cancer. Based on tissue conditions, the results showed that expression levels of CK13 and 14 decreased in the order of no change, dysplasia, and cancer, whereas those of CK17 and 19 increased in the same order. Expression of CK13 showed a significant difference among no change, dysplasia, and cancer. This indicates that comparing the immunohistochemical staining profiles of CKs, especially CK13, could help in assessing the characteristics of epithelial dysplastic spread around a cancer.

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