Increased Fas ligand expression in the tumor tissue and serum of patients with testicular germ cell tumors with seminomatous elements.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the expression levels of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) in testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) and to determine whether the serum level of soluble FasL (sFasL) could be used as a marker for patients with TGCT.


METHODS
The expression of Fas and FasL in 51 specimens obtained from patients with TGCT was examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and the results were confirmed by Western blot analysis. The serum levels of sFasL in 24 patients with TGCT were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system.


RESULTS
Of 33 TGCT specimens that included seminomatous elements, Fas and FasL was expressed in 24 (73%) and 24 (73%), respectively. On the other hand, 10 (56%) and 2 (11%) specimens expressed Fas and FasL, respectively, in 18 TGCT specimens without seminomatous elements. Moreover, the serum levels of sFasL were significantly higher in patients with TGCT with a seminomatous element than in those without it.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that FasL is strongly expressed in tumor tissue and is present at high levels in the serum of patients with TGCT with a seminomatous element compared with those without it and that the serum levels of sFasL could be used as a novel diagnostic marker for TGCT with seminomatous elements.
Hara
S
S
Department of Urology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Miyake
H
H
Nakamura
I
I
Arakawa
S
S
Kamidono
S
S
Hara
I
I
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D015870:Gene Expression; D018237:Germinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018239:Seminoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor