title: Evaluation of anti-thrombomodulin antibody as a tumor marker for vascular neoplasms.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. manningthomasa@uams.edu
authors.forename: Trey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Smoller
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Darouti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marzouk
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Hadidi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramadan
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018180:Thrombomodulin; D014841:von Willebrand Factor