This article was written by pathologists for patients. It aims to help patients understand GFAP and its significance in pathology reports. It includes sections on what GFAP is, where it is normally found, how pathologists test for it, and which benign and malignant tumours express this protein. What is GFAP? GFAP stands for glial fibrillary …
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This article was written by pathologists. This article aims to help patients understand what CD138 is and its significance in pathology reports. It includes sections on what CD138 is, where it is normally found, how pathologists test for it, and which benign and malignant tumours express CD138. What is CD138? CD138 is a protein found …
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WT-1 (Wilms’ tumour 1) is a type of protein called a transcription factor. It was originally identified due to its association with Wilms’ tumour, a type of kidney cancer that affects children. It plays a critical role in the development and function of the kidneys and testis, influencing gene expression related to cellular growth and …
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Smooth muscle actin (SMA) is a protein found in the cells of smooth muscle, which is responsible for involuntary movements in the body, such as the contraction of blood vessels and the gastrointestinal tract. Pathologists use special tests to detect SMA in tissues, which can help them diagnose certain types of tumours and conditions that …
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E-cadherin, also known as epithelial cadherin or CDH1, is a transmembrane protein that helps epithelial cells stick together in a process called cell adhesion. What does e-cadherin do? The function of e-cadherin is to help maintain the integrity and structure of epithelial tissues such as those in the skin, breast, digestive tract, respiratory tract, genitourinary …
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What is PAX5? PAX5 (Paired box protein 5) is a type of protein called a transcription factor that plays an important role in the development and function of B cells, a type of white blood cells (WBCs) that are part of the body’s immune system. It is also known as BSAP (B-cell-specific activator protein) due …
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AE1/AE3 are a pair of antibodies that recognize multiple cytokeratins, intermediate filament proteins found in epithelial cells. Cytokeratins are normally located in the cytoplasm (body) of the epithelial cell. Pathologists perform a test called immunohistochemistry to stain tissues for AE1/AE3 and the pattern and intensity of staining can help identify the presence of epithelial cells …
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CDX-2 is a gene that encodes for a protein known as Caudal Type Homeobox 2. It is a member of the caudal-related homeobox transcription factor gene family. This protein is crucial for embryonic development, particularly in forming the small and large intestines. It acts as a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes involved …
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CD30 is a protein made primarily by activated immune cells such as T cells and B cells. Some types of cancers that start from T cells or B cells, such as anaplastic large cell lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma also express CD30. The tumour cells in embryonal carcinoma, a type of cancer that often involves the male …
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CD68 is a specialized type of protein highly expressed in cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. It serves as a marker for these cells in various tissues and is involved in the immune system’s response to pathogens and the clearance of cellular debris. What does CD68 do? Phagocytosis: CD68 is involved in the process of phagocytosis, …
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