The pluripotential nature of the mesenchyme-like component of yolk sac tumor.
Germ cell neoplasms were reviewed for the investigation of a mesenchyme-like component of yolk sac tumor (YST) characterized by spindle cells with few mitoses in a myxoid, vascular background. Nineteen YSTs with this pattern were identified. The mesenchyme-like component of these YSTs appeared to derive from the epithelial elements of YST, since cytokeratin as well as vimentin positivity occurred in the spindle cells of the mesenchyme-like areas and foci of epithelial-spindle cell transition were present. In some cases the mesenchyme-like component showed differentiated mesenchymal elements (usually skeletal muscle). Similar features were identified in 13 chemotherapy-treated cases of YST that consisted only of this mesenchyme-like component. The mesenchyme-like component of YST appears to represent a chemoresistant, pluripotential cell population arising from metaplasia of YST epithelium; it may give rise to sarcomas occurring in some patients with treated germ cell tumors.
Michael
H
H
Department of Pathology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
Ulbright
T M
TM
Brodhecker
C A
CA
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology; D008649:Mesonephroma / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D014746:Vimentin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D007633:Keratins