title: Loss of heterozygosity and decreased expression of NME genes correlate with teratomatous differentiation in human male germ cell tumors.
abstract: Embryonal carcinoma in the human male is a pluripotential germ cell tumor (GCT), which is suggested to further differentiate to teratoma which displays somatic differentiation representing all three germinal layers. In a panel of 37 GCTs we determined frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and the level of expression of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) genes NME 1 and NME 2. The frequency of LOH in teratomas (86%) was found to be highly significant (P < 0.01) compared to embryonal carcinomas (17%). We also found that the NME encoded proteins are expressed at a 4-5 fold lower level in teratomas compared to embryonal carcinomas. These findings lead us to hypothesize that a critical level of NDPK may be necessary for suppression of aberrant somatic differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Section, Lederle Laboratories, American Cyanamid Company, Pearl River, NY 10965.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Murty
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Potla
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mendola
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Bosl
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Chaganti
mesh_terms: D015870:Gene Expression; D018237:Germinoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013724:Teratoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase