[Expression and diagnostic significance of OCT4, CD117 and CD30 in germ cell tumors].
OBJECTIVE
To study the immunohistochemical expression of OCT4, CD117 and CD30 in germ cell tumors and to assess their diagnostic value.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical study for OCT4 was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 63 cases of germ cell tumors, including seminoma (21), dysgerminoma (7), germinoma (8), embryonal carcinoma (8), yolk sac tumor (6), mature teratoma (10) and immature teratoma (3), as well as 25 cases of non-germ cell tumors, including granulosa cell tumor (8), clear cell adenocarcinoma (4), Leydig's cell tumor (5), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (4) and malignant melanoma (4). Besides, the expression of CD117 and CD30 in all germ cell tumors was studied.


RESULTS
All cases of seminoma and germinoma, 6/7 cases of dysgerminoma and 7/8 cases of embryonal carcinoma were positive for OCT4, with strong nuclear staining. All other germ cell tumors and non-germ cell tumors were negative for OCT4, except for 1 case of yolk sac tumor and 1 case of clear cell adenocarcinoma which showed weak staining. Positive membranous expression of CD117 was demonstrated in 19/21(90.5%) seminoma, 5/7 dysgerminoma and 7/8 germinoma. Focal weak membranous staining was also noted in 1 case of yolk sac tumor. The melanocytes in teratoma were also positive for CD117. All cases of embryonal carcinoma were negative. On the other hand, positive membranous expression of CD30 were demonstrated in 6/8 embryonal carcinoma. One case of germinoma and 1 case of yolk sac tumor showed weak cytoplasmic positivity. All cases of seminoma and dysgerminoma, 7/8 germinoma and all cases of teratoma were negative for CD30.


CONCLUSIONS
OCT4 is a sensitive and relatively specific marker for diagnosing seminoma, dysgerminoma, germinoma and embryonal carcinoma. CD117 and CD30 immunostains, when used in combination, represent valuable tools for distinguishing embryonal carcinoma and seminoma, dysgerminoma, germinoma.
Department of Pathology, Capital University Medical Science Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing 100053, China.
Liang-Hong
LH
Teng
De-Hong
DH
Lu
Qing-Zhong
QZ
Xu
Yong-Juan
YJ
Fu
Hong
H
Yang
Zhi-Li
ZL
He
D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism*; D018239:Seminoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013724:Teratoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; C494174:Pou5f1 protein, mouse; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit