[Expression of CD117 in human testicular germ cell tumors and its diagnostic value for seminoma and nonseminoma].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression of CD117 in human testicular germ cell tumors and its value in the differential diagnosis of seminoma and nonseminoma.


METHODS
Seventy-four human testicular germ cell tumor specimens were studied by ABC kit immunohistochemical staining detection using CD117 monoclonal antibodies. The immunoreaction scores (IRS) of all the specimens were calculated and analysed for their clinical significance.


RESULTS
Among the 74 germ cell tumors, 31 out of 32 (9 6.9%) seminomas showed positive staining of the CD117 mostly on the cell membrane. Four of 31 (12.9%) nonseminomas displayed a weak positive staining of CD117 only in the cytoplasm of a few cells. In 10 of 11 mixed germ cell tumors, a relatively weak expression of CD117 was shown only in the seminoma component. The CD117 expression was diagnostically decreased from seminoma to mixed seminoma and to nonseminoma successively, with IRS of 6.82 +/- 2.76, 1.25 +/- 0.42 and 0.60 +/- 0.16, respectively. There was a significant difference in the CD117 expression between seminoma and nonseminoma (P < 0.05). CD 117 proteins were positively expressed in all the 20 specimens of the normal testis.


CONCLUSIONS
The detection of CD117 by immunohistochemical staining using CD117 monoclonal antibodies is a newly developed useful method for differentiating seminoma and nonseminoma.
Liu
Dong-Liang
DL
Department of Urology, No. 363 Hospital of PLA, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. ldlang2003@163.com
Lu
Yi-Ping
YP
Shi
Hai-Yan
HY
Zhu
Shu-Xia
SX
Lü
Jian-Wei
JW
Li
Wei-Feng
WF
Rong
Xia
X
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018239:Seminoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*
D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit