This antibody recognizes a carbohydrate epitope on a single chain, transmembrane, heavily glycosylated protein of 90-120kDa, which is identified as CD34 (VI international workshop on human differentiation antigens). Its expression is a hallmark for identifying pluripotent hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. Its expression is gradually lost as lineage committed progenitors differentiate. CD34 is a marker of choice for staining blasts in acute myeloid leukemia. In addition, it is expressed by soft tissue tumors, such as solitary fibrous tumor and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. CD34 expression is also found in vascular endothelium. Additionally, it appears that proliferating endothelial cells overexpress this molecule than the non-proliferating endothelial cells. Anti-CD34 labels 85% of angiosarcoma and Kaposis sarcoma, but shows low specificity.
