DatasheetSDS

OCT-4 (also known as OTF3 or POU5F1), is a transcription factor, member of POU family of transcription factors. OCT-4 expression is associated with undifferentitated cellular proliferation and tumors. OCT-4 is active as a maternal factor in the oocyte but remains active in embryos throughout the preimplantation period. OCT-4 regulates pluripotency, it is expressed in embryonic stem, germ cells. It binds to the key regulators of self renewal in embryonic stem cells, tumor cells and it can affect some aspects of tumor behavior such as tumor recurrence or resistance to therapies. OCT-4 is a sensitive, specific marker for germ cell tumors. It is consistently detected in carcinoma insitu/gonadoblastoma, seminomas, germinoma, dysgerminoma, and embryonal carcinoma but not in the differential components of nonseminomas, i.e., teratomas, yolk sac tumors and choriocarcinomas. Antibody to OCT-4 is useful in the identification of primary as well as metastatic germ cell tumors