Cyclin A1 is highly expressed in aggressive testicular germ cell tumors.
Cyclin A1 is a tissue-specific A-type cyclin that is essential for spermatogenesis. Overexpression of cyclin A1 was found in acute myeloid leukemia and cyclin A1 induced leukemia in a transgenic mouse model. We used quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to analyze cyclin A1 expression in solid tumors. Cyclin A1 expression was very low in breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and in cervical carcinoma. However, substantial expression of cyclin A1 was found in testicular and ovarian cancer and in endometrial cancer. In testis specimens, cyclin A1 expression was much higher in testicular tumors compared to Sertoli cell only syndrome that lacks spermatogenesis. Compared to normal spermatogenesis, testicular cancers expressed on average lower levels of cyclin A1. Among the different histological subtypes of testicular tumors, embryonal cell carcinomas and immature teratomas expressed the highest levels of cyclin A1. The cyclin A1 levels in these tumors were similar to those seen in normal testis. Seminomas and yolk sac tumors expressed intermediate levels, whereas cyclin A1 expression was very low in mature teratomas. These findings indicate that cyclin A1 is expressed in selected solid tumors. Its known oncogenic function and the high expression levels in aggressive testicular tumors suggest a role for cyclin A1 in germ cell tumorigenesis.
Müller-Tidow
Carsten
C
Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Münster, Domagkstr. 3, 48129 Münster, Germany. muellerc@uni-muenster.de
Diederichs
Sven
S
Schrader
Mark G
MG
Vogt
Ulf
U
Miller
Kurt
K
Berdel
Wolfgang E
WE
Serve
Hubert
H
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D019925:Cyclin A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology*; D056750:Cyclin A1; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism
C503745:CCNA1 protein, human; C503747:Ccna1 protein, mouse; D019925:Cyclin A; D056750:Cyclin A1; D018076:DNA, Complementary