Evaluation of anti-thrombomodulin antibody as a tumor marker for vascular neoplasms.
BACKGROUND
Various endothelial markers are available for the evaluation of vascular tumors and malformations, including anti CD34, anti-CD31, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and anti-thrombomodulin (anti-TM) antibodies. All have their limitations, and we sought to compare the utility of anti-TM antibody as a marker for several types of vascular neoplasms vs. previously established endothelial markers.


METHODS
We examined immunostaining profiles of 30 capillary hemangiomas, 10 pyogenic granulomas, five tufted angiomas, 17 Kaposi's sarcomas, and nine angiosarcomas. Immunostains for TM, CD34, and vWF were carried out using a labeled streptavidin-biotin peroxidase detection system.


RESULTS
Anti-TM antibody showed moderately intense immunostaining in 89% of benign and malignant vascular neoplasms. Anti-CD34 antibody showed moderate to diffuse immunostaining in 98% of vascular neoplasms, and vWF showed weak focal staining in 84% of all vascular neoplasms examined.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-TM antibody proved to be a sensitive marker for both benign and malignant vascular neoplasms. While not as sensitive as anti-CD34, it may have some advantages in specificity that would make it a more reliable vascular tumor marker in certain situations.
Manning
Trey
T
Department of Dermatology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. manningthomasa@uams.edu
Smoller
Bruce R
BR
Horn
Thomas D
TD
El Darouti
Mohammad
M
Marzouk
S
S
Hadidi
H E
HE
Ramadan
S
S
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D017789:Granuloma, Pyogenic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009383:Neoplasms, Vascular Tissue / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018180:Thrombomodulin; D014841:von Willebrand Factor