作者：Jason Wasserman 医学博士 FRCPC
2026 年 4 月 6 日
AE1/AE3 is a laboratory test used by pathologists to help identify the origin of a tumour. It works by detecting proteins called 细胞角蛋白 — structural proteins found inside 上皮细胞, which line the surfaces of organs and glands throughout the body. AE1/AE3 is not a single protein — it is a combination of two antibodies, AE1 and AE3, that together detect a broad range of cytokeratins. Because most cancers arising from epithelial cells (carcinomas) continue to express cytokeratins, a positive AE1/AE3 result is a strong indicator that a tumour is of epithelial origin.
Why do pathologists test for AE1/AE3?
AE1/AE3 is performed as part of a panel of special tests — called 免疫组织化学 (IHC) — when a pathologist needs to determine what type of cells a tumour is made of. This question is most important when:
- The tumour has an unusual appearance, and its origin is not clear from routine examination alone.
- Only a small amount of tissue is available, such as from a needle biopsy.
- The tissue has been distorted by scarring, inflammation, or prior treatment.
- A pathologist needs to detect very small numbers of cancer cells — for example, isolated tumour cells in a lymph node that might otherwise be missed.
AE1/AE3 is also used to help assess tumour invasion — how deeply cancer cells have grown into surrounding tissue — and to identify tumour budding, which refers to small clusters of cancer cells that break away from the main tumour and may be linked to a higher risk of spread.
How is AE1/AE3 tested?
Pathologists use immunohistochemistry to test for AE1/AE3. In this technique, antibodies designed to bind to cytokeratins are applied to a thin slice of tumour tissue on a glass slide. When cytokeratins are present, the antibodies bind and trigger a color change visible under the microscope. The color appears in the cytoplasm — the main body of the cell, surrounding the nucleus. Normal cells in the surrounding tissue serve as built-in controls, confirming that the test worked as expected.
结果如何报告
AE1/AE3 results are reported as either positive or negative:
- Positive (reactive) — cytokeratins were detected in the tumour cells. This means the cells are likely of epithelial origin, which supports a diagnosis of carcinoma. Most carcinomas — including cancers of the colon, lung, breast, stomach, pancreas, prostate, bladder, and thyroid — are AE1/AE3 positive.
- Negative (non-reactive) — cytokeratins were not detected. This suggests the tumour cells did not come from epithelial tissue. Tumors that arise from other cell types — such as 肉瘤 (cancers of muscle, fat, or connective tissue), 淋巴瘤, and melanomas — are typically AE1/AE3 negative.
Because AE1/AE3 stains a wide range of epithelial cell types, a positive result alone does not identify the organ of origin or the exact type of carcinoma. It is always interpreted alongside other markers in the same panel to build a complete picture.
这个结果对我的诊断意味着什么？
If your pathology report includes an AE1/AE3 result, it means your pathologist performed additional testing to confirm the nature of your tumour. A positive result supports the conclusion that the tumour is a carcinoma — a cancer of epithelial origin. A negative result may point toward a different tumour type, such as a lymphoma or sarcoma, and will usually prompt further testing.
In either case, AE1/AE3 is one piece of a larger diagnostic puzzle. Your pathologist will combine the AE1/AE3 result with results from other stains and the tissue’s overall appearance to reach a final diagnosis.
问你的医生的问题
- What did the AE1/AE3 result show, and what does it tell us about where my cancer came from?
- What other stains were performed alongside AE1/AE3, and what did they show?
- Does this result change or confirm my diagnosis?
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