Immunostaining of stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 in intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified and in testicular germ-cell tumors.
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.
Tokuyama
Satoru
S
Department of Urology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Saito
Seiichi
S
Takahashi
Toshiko
T
Ohyama
Chikara
C
Ito
Akihiro
A
Kanto
Satoru
S
Satoh
Makoto
M
Hoshi
Senji
S
Endoh
Mareyuki
M
Arai
Yoichi
Y
D000328:Adult; D019921:Biotinylation; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000378:metabolism*; D018239:Seminoma / Q000378:metabolism; D055746:Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
D006017:Glycolipids; D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D055746:Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens; C066584:stage-specific embryonic antigen-4