Immunohistology of normal and ovarian cancer tissue with a monoclonal antibody to placental alkaline phosphatase.

A monoclonal antibody, designated NDOG2, has been shown to react with placental alkaline phosphatase. It does not bind to liver, kidney, bone, or intestinal alkaline phosphatase enzymes and has shown a positive reaction with all of over 50 placentae. Immunohistological studies have shown (a) a reaction with respiratory bronchiolar epithelium of lung, endocervical gland epithelium, the epithelium of fallopian tube, and certain reticular cells in the thymic medulla; (b) no detectable staining with ten other normal tissues including testis and tonsil; and (c) a significant reaction with nine of 13 ovarian cystadenocarcinomas and little or no staining with four malignant ovarian tumors of other histopathological types. The NDOG2 antibody may be of value as a marker in patients with ovarian cystadenocarcinoma.