Odontogenic Ameloblast Associated Protein (ODAM)

ODAM is expressed in rodent enamel organ and is likely involved in dental development.Notably, these reagents immunostained normal and malignant ameloblasts and other types of human neoplastic cells, including those of gastric, lung, and breast origin where the presence in the latter was confirmed by in situ hybridization using gene-specific molecular probes. Moreover, significant titers of anti-ODAM IgG antibodies were detected in the sera of patients with these malignancies.ODAM is a developmental antigen that has an essential role in tooth maturation and in the pathogenesis of certain odontogenic and other epithelial neoplasms; ODAM may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker, as well as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for patients with breast and other epithelial forms of cancer.