Transcript profiling of 27 normal colon mucosas and 258 adenocarcinomas showed Keratin23 to be increased in 78% microsatellite-stable tumors, while microsatellite-instable tumors showed low transcript levels, comparable to normal mucosas. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that 88% of microsatellite-instable tumors were negative for Keratin23 protein, while 70% of MSS tumors and metastases derived from MSS-tumors showed high Keratin23 levels. Immunofluorescence analysis localized Keratin23 in the Golgi-apparatus. Golgi accumulation was unique for gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas. Immunoprecipitation and 2D-blot analysis revealed Keratin23 to be a 46.8 kDa phosphoprotein. Keratin23 impaired the proliferation of human colon cancer cells significantly, leading to cell death in microsatellite-instable but not microsatellite-stable cell lines, while COS7 cells experienced multiple nuclei and apoptosis. Keratin23 expression correlated significantly with transcription factor CEBPB. In conclusion, Keratin23 expression is a novel and important difference between microsatellite-stable and microsatellite-instable colon cancers.