PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Giorgio Cazzaniga
AU  - Davide Seminati
AU  - Andrew Smith
AU  - Isabella Piga
AU  - Giulia Capitoli
AU  - Mattia Garancini
AU  - Vincenzo L'Imperio
AU  - Nicola Fusco
AU  - Fabio Pagni
TI  - Lights on HBME-1: the elusive biomarker in thyroid cancer pathology
AID  - 10.1136/jclinpath-2022-208248
DP  - 2022 Sep 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 588--592
VI  - 75
IP  - 9
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/75/9/588.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/75/9/588.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol2022 Sep 01; 75
AB  - Among the different ancillary immunohistochemical tools that pathologists may employ in thyroid nodules, the so-called Hector Battifora’s ‘MEsothelioma’ 1 (HBME-1) staining is one of the most fascinating, since its real identity is currently unknown. In the present review, the different clinical applications of HBME-1 are analysed, with main emphasis on its role in thyroid pathology with overview on less impactful fields, such as haematopathology or mesothelial lesions. Different acceptable or good diagnostic performances were recorded for HBME-1 in thyroid pathology, being used in routine practice as one of the best tools to screen thyroid malignancy both in terms of sensitivity and specificity. From a speculative point of view, after many attempts to hunt the cryptic target antigen of this antibody, its identity still remains elusive. In this setting, the application of high-throughput technologies (mainly in situ proteomics) may be the exact route to improve the knowledge about the pathophysiology of HBME-1 and to finally unveil its true identity.