title: Pigment epithelium-derived factor as a new diagnostic marker for melanocytic tumors.
abstract: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a potent antiangiogenetic factor, has been lately known to correlate well with angiogenic and metastatic potentials of tumor cells. We investigated the expression of PEDF protein in various types of human tumor cells by an immunohistochemical technique using a monoclonal antibody. Consequently, we found the significantly frequent and intense expression of PEDF in human melanocytic tumor cells including malignant melanoma as compared to non-melanocytic ones. We evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of anti-PEDF antibody in melanocytic tumors by comparing its immunoreactive sensitivity with that of other conventional melanocytic markers such as S-100 protein, HMB-45 and Melan-A, and found that PEDF possess the equal ability to others on its sensitivity. We finally concluded that PEDF is a useful diagnostic marker for melanocytic tumors, especially malignant melanomas, by its use in combination with other markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuru
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toyozumi
authors.forename: Seiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D015843:Serpins / Q000032:analysis*; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005136:Eye Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D015843:Serpins; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor