Keratins are not only pivotal in normal cellular functions but also in the context of cancer. They serve as important biomarkers for diagnosing and classifying various types of cancers. For example, the expression patterns of keratins can be used to differentiate between carcinomas (cancers originating from epithelial cells) and other types of neoplasms. Changes in keratin expression or structure can indicate the presence and progression of cancer, making them valuable in cancer research and clinical diagnostics.
