D2-40

D2-40 is directed against the M2A antigen, a 40 kDa sialoglycoprotein found on the cell surface of testicular gonocytes, germ cell tumours lymphatic endothelium and mesothelial cells. D2-40 is immunoreactive with formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue.

Immunohistochemical expression

The lymphatic staining is in a thin linear pattern.

Mesothelial immunoreactivity is membranous and, to a lesser extent, cytoplasmic. Other antibodies are shown for comparison.

D2-40

Calretinin

WT1

CK5/6

rate of positivity

mean percentage of cells staining in positive cases

Mesothelioma

epithelioid

33/33¹

92%¹

33/33¹

19/33¹

29/32¹

biphasic

15/16¹

epithelioid cells: 90%, sarcomatous cells: 26%¹

16/16¹

10/16¹

13/16¹

sarcomatous

3/4¹

52%¹

2/4¹

0/4¹

1/4¹

Reactive pleura

27/28¹

71%¹

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma

2/31 (weak cytoplasmic staining)¹

13%¹

7/31¹

2/31¹

12/31¹

Ovarian serous carcinoma

17/26 (membranous staining)¹

33%¹

8/26¹

23/26¹

9/26¹

Renal cell carcinoma

Conventional

0/16¹

2/16¹

0/16¹

5/16¹

Papillary

5/13 (weak cytoplasmic staining)¹

43%¹

1/13¹

1/13¹

7/13¹

Chromophobe

0/5¹

1/5¹

1/5¹

1/5¹

Breast carcinoma

3/16 (weak cytoplasmic staining)¹

13%¹

Prostatic adenocarcinoma

0/11¹

Urothelial carcinoma

0/7¹

Diagnostic utility

Differentiation of mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma. It does not appear to so useful in differentiation of mesothelioma form serous ovarian tumours. Like other mesothelial markers, it appears least useful in sarcomatous mesotheliomas.

References

¹Chu AY, Litzky LA, Pasha TL, Acs G,Zhang PJ Utility of D2-40, a novel mesothelial marker, in the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. Mod Pathol 2005; 18:105-10

This page last revised 5.2.2005.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop