Desmin: Its value as a marker of muscle derived tumours using a commercial antibody

This study examined the staining reactions of a commercially available anti desmin antibody in 192 soft tissue sarcomas, 30 carcinomas and 22 malignant melanomas. Only 63% of rhabdomyosarcomas and 50% of leiomyosarcomas showed a positive reaction. Three non muscle sarcomas also reacted with the antibody. No positivity was seen amongst the carcinomas or the melanomas. These results do not compare favourably with the documented results of non commercial desmin antibodies in the literature. The most likely cause of the discrepancy in the varying results is the differing source of the antibody.