title: Non-Leydig sex-cord tumors of the testis. The place of immunohistochemistry in diagnosis and prognosis. A study of twenty cases.
abstract: In 20 sex-cord tumors of the testes, we investigated immunohistochemistry as a possible method for histopathological diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis. We examined the following molecules: inhibin, CD99, cytokeratin, vimentin, MIB-1, estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors. These tumors of the testes comprised 18 Sertoli cell tumors (ScT) and two undifferentiated sex-cord tumors (USCT). Four tumors have been considered as malignant, because of metastatic spread. Inhibin was expressed by the tumor cells in 80% of sex cord tumors, without any correlation to the degree of differentiation and only in 25% of the malignant cases. Inhibin is a specific marker for sex-cord tumors of the testis and is particularly useful for the diagnosis of USCT. CD99, vimentin, keratin, progesterone and estrogen receptors were expressed in, respectively, 60%, 75%, 35%, 65% and 20% of cases; 95% expressed one of the three following markers: inhibin, CD99 or vimentin. Proliferation index MIB-1 was equal to or higher than 30% in the four malignant cases versus less than 20% in other cases. Lack of inhibin expression and a proliferation index (MIB-1) greater than 30% should be considered as a criterion in favor of malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Service Central d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, Groupe hospitalier Cochin-Saint Vincent de Paul, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint Jaques, 75679 Paris, Cedex 14, France.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Compérat
authors.forename: Fréderique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tissier
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boyé
authors.forename: Gonzague
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Pinieux
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vieillefond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000032:analysis; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D007984:Leydig Cell Tumor / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008938:Mitosis; D011379:Prognosis; D018312:Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D007265:Inhibins