HMB-45
Encyclopedia
HMB-45 is a monoclonal antibody that reacts against an antigen present in melanocytic
tumor
s such as melanoma
s. It is used in anatomic pathology as a marker for such tumors.
HMB-45 was discovered by Drs. Allen M. Gown and Arthur M. Vogel in 1986. The antibody was generated to an extract of melanoma. It reacted positively against melanocytic tumors but not other tumors, thus demonstrating specificity and sensitivity. Moreover, the antibody reacts positively against junctional nevus
cells but not intradermal nevi, and against fetal melanocytes but not normal adult melanocytes. HMB stands for Human Melanoma Black.
HMB-45 is nonreactive with almost all non-melanoma human malignancies, with the exception of rare tumors showing evidence of melanogenesis (e.g., pigmented schwannoma
, clear cell sarcoma
) or tumors associated with tuberous sclerosis
complex (angiomyolipoma
and lymphangiomyoma).
Melanocyte
-External links: - "Eye: fovea, RPE" - "Integument: pigmented skin"...
tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
s such as melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
s. It is used in anatomic pathology as a marker for such tumors.
HMB-45 was discovered by Drs. Allen M. Gown and Arthur M. Vogel in 1986. The antibody was generated to an extract of melanoma. It reacted positively against melanocytic tumors but not other tumors, thus demonstrating specificity and sensitivity. Moreover, the antibody reacts positively against junctional nevus
Nevus
Nevus is the medical term for sharply-circumscribed and chronic lesions of the skin. These lesions are commonly named birthmarks and moles. Nevi are benign by definition...
cells but not intradermal nevi, and against fetal melanocytes but not normal adult melanocytes. HMB stands for Human Melanoma Black.
HMB-45 is nonreactive with almost all non-melanoma human malignancies, with the exception of rare tumors showing evidence of melanogenesis (e.g., pigmented schwannoma
Schwannoma
A schwannoma is a benign nerve sheath tumor composed of Schwann cells, which normally produce the insulating myelin sheath covering peripheral nerves....
, clear cell sarcoma
Sarcoma
A sarcoma is a cancer that arises from transformed cells in one of a number of tissues that develop from embryonic mesoderm. Thus, sarcomas include tumors of bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, vascular, and hematopoietic tissues...
) or tumors associated with tuberous sclerosis
Tuberous sclerosis
Tuberous sclerosis or tuberous sclerosis complex is a rare multi-system genetic disease that causes non-malignant tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. A combination of symptoms may include seizures, developmental delay, behavioral...
complex (angiomyolipoma
Angiomyolipoma
Angiomyolipoma are the most common benign tumour of the kidney and are composed of blood vessels, smooth muscle cells and fat cells. Angiomyolipoma are strongly associated with the genetic disease tuberous sclerosis, in which most individuals will have several angiomyolipoma affecting both kidneys...
and lymphangiomyoma).
External links
- Melanoma Marker (HMB45) Antibody - www.scbt.com
- Melanoma antibody (ab787) datasheet - abcam.comAbcam plcAbcam plc is a UK biotech company based in the Cambridge Science Park in Cambridge, England, with offices in Boston MA, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Tokyo.The premise of the company was incubated from a laboratory in the University of Cambridge, UK in 1998...
.