Immunostaining of stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 in intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified and in testicular germ-cell tumors.

Abstract

Stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4) is expressed in testicular germ-cell tumors (GCT) according to studies using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) immunostaining. To further understand the relationship between SSEA-4 and the histogenesis of testicular GCT, we examined the expression of SSEA-4 in 43 samples of testicular GCT either by immunohistochemical staining or by TLC immunostaining. Immunohistochemical staining detected SSEA-4 in spermatogonia from the non-tumor parts of the testis and in all of 8 samples of intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified (IGCNU). Immunohistochemical staining was SSEA-4 positive in all 9 seminomas, and in one yolk sac tumor and in 5 embryonal carcinomas among 9 non-seminomas. Immunostaining with TLC showed that SSEA-4 was retained in 15 of 16 seminomas and in 4 of 8 non-seminomas. These results demonstrate an antigenic link between spermatogonia, IGCNU, and testicular GCT. We suggest that SSEA-4 is associated with the histogenesis of testicular GCT.

• Authors: Satoru Tokuyama, Seiichi Saito, Toshiko Takahashi, Chikara Ohyama, Akihiro Ito, Satoru Kanto, Makoto Satoh, Senji Hoshi, Mareyuki Endoh, Yoichi Arai
• Journal: Oncology reports (Oncol Rep) 2003 Sep-Oct Vol. 10 Issue 5 Pg. 1097-104 ISSN: 1021-335X [Print] Greece
• PMID: 12883664 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Glycolipids
• Glycosphingolipids
• Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens
• stage-specific embryonic antigen-4

Topics

• Adult
• Biotinylation
• Chromatography, Thin Layer
• Endodermal Sinus Tumor (metabolism)
• Glycolipids (chemistry)
• Glycosphingolipids (biosynthesis)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal (metabolism)
• Seminoma (metabolism)
• Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens
• Testicular Neoplasms (metabolism)