[Expressions of STAT3, VEGF and C-myc in seminoma and their significance].
OBJECTIVE
To understand the role of the JAK/STAT3 signal transduction pathway in the pathogenesis of seminoma by studying the expressions of signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT3), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-myc in seminoma.


METHODS
We examined 38 paraffin specimens of seminoma and 10 samples of normal human testes by immunohistochemical staining using the antibodies of STAT3, VEGF and C-myc, and observed the staining intensity under the light microscope.


RESULTS
The positive expression rates of STAT3, VEGF and C-myc were 76.3%, 71.1% and 84.2%, respectively, with statistically significant differences from the corresponding protein expressions in the normal testis tissues (P < 0.01), which gradually increased with the clinical stages of tumor, nodes and metastasis (TNM) classification. Different correlations were observed among the STAT3, VEGF and C-myc proteins in seminoma: STAT3 positively correlated with VEGF (r = 0.640, P < 0.01) and C-myc (r = 0.408, P < 0.05); C-myc positively correlated with VEGF (r = 0.459, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The JAK/STAT3 signal transduction pathway can facilitate the development and metastasis of seminoma by activating the expression of VEGF and meanwhile induce the malignant proliferation of primary reproductive cells and promote the pathogenesis and progression of seminoma by activating the expression of C-myc.
Li
Wei
W
Faculty of Pathology, Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225001, China. carfield1981@126.com
Li
Jing-Jing
JJ
Li
Guo-Li
GL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018239:Seminoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D053612:Janus Kinases