title: C-kit expression in germinoma: an immunohistochemistry-based study.
abstract: In our immunohistochemical study of 25 human primary intracranial germinomas and germinomas with syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells (STGC), we stained the same sections for c-kit and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). Immunohistochemical expression was graded using a semi-quantitative scoring system where 3+ =51-75%, and 4+ =76-100%. Of the 25 cases, 7 (28%) were graded 3+ and 18 (72%) 4+ for c-kit; 8 (32%) were 3+ or 4+ for PLAP. All 3 cases negative for PLAP-staining were strongly positive and all embryonal carcinomas, immature teratomas, and yolk sac tumors were negative for c-kit staining. The soluble isoform of c-kit (s-kit) is reportedly detectable in cerebral spinal fluid of patients with germinomas and germinomas with STGC. C-kit and s-kit may be powerful tumor markers for germinomas with or without STGC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, 860-8556 Kumamoto, Japan. hnakamur@fc.kuh.kumamoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeshima
authors.forename: Keishi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuratsu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007527:Isoenzymes; C055791:germ-cell AP isoenzyme; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase