Abstract | BACKGROUND/AIM:
Caveolin, which is a major constructive component of the caveolar membranes, plays a key role in transcytosis of molecules into cells and regulation of several signal transductions. Caveolin has three isoforms, and recent studies suggest that in some malignant tumors an alteration of caveolin-1 expression correlates with oncogenetic changes. Caveolins have been reported to be negative regulators of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) which can provoke an antitumor response via infiltrating immune cells. The aim of this study was to examine the expressions of caveolin-1 and caveolin-3 (which is a caveolin-1 homologue localized predominantly in muscle tissue) in testicular cancer. METHODS: RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry revealed that caveolin-3, but not caveolin-1, was frequently expressed in seminomas (12 positive out of 16 specimens) without positive staining in their normal counterparts or in nonseminomatous germ cell tumors, except for muscle components in the teratoma. iNOS was not expressed in any tissues examined. Samples with high levels of caveolin-3 tended to have higher degrees of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, although this finding was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION:
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Authors | Takashi Kasahara, Noboru Hara, Vladimir Bilim, Yoshihiko Tomita, Toshiki Tsutsui, Kota Takahashi |
Journal | Urologia internationalis
(Urol Int)
Vol. 69
Issue 1
Pg. 63-8
( 2002)
ISSN: 0042-1138 [Print] Switzerland |
PMID | 12119442
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Caveolin 3
- Caveolins
(biosynthesis)
- Germinoma
(metabolism, pathology)
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Infant
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Testicular Neoplasms
(metabolism, pathology)
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