title: Histological groups of human postpubertal testicular germ cell tumours harbour different genetic alterations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Testicular germ cell tumours are the most common malignancies in young males. Molecular biology studies of these tumours are often contradictory. Two histological groups, seminoma and non-seminoma, differ both morphologically and in malignant behaviour. Although a common cytogenetic feature is seen, namely the amplification of the 12p chromosomal region, the development mechanisms of less aggressive seminomas and more aggressive non-seminomas are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Occurrence of structural genetic alterations was analyzed in 18 seminomas and 22 non-seminomas for genes involved in the malignant tumour phenotype: cadherin 1, Type 1, E-cadherin (Epithelial), CDH1; adenomatous polyposis coli, APC; NME/NM23 nucleoside diphosphate kinase 1, NME1; tumour protein P53, TP53; cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A, CDKN2A; retinoblastoma 1, RB1; RAD51 recombinase, RAD51; mutS homolog 2, MSH2; MutL homolog 1, MLH1; breast cancer 1, early onset, BRCA1; BCL2-Associated X Protein, BAX; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family G (WHITE), Member 2, ABCG2. Genetic alterations, loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability, were analyzed using restriction fragment or microsatellite repeat length polymorphisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A difference in genetic alteration occurrence between seminomas and non-seminomas was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occurrence of genetic alterations correlates with clinical behaviour of these tumours and may indicate that such alterations could occur early in the development of seminomas and non-seminomas.
authors: Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia tvladusic@pbf.hr.
authors: Tomislav
authors: T
authors: Vladušić
authors: Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Reno
authors: R
authors: Hrašćan
authors: Ljudevit Jurak Department of Pathology, Sisters of Mercy University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Božo
authors: B
authors: Krušlin
authors: Laboratory of Neurooncology, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Zagreb, Croatia School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Nives
authors: N
authors: Pećina-Šlaus
authors: Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Perica
authors: Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Anamarija
authors: A
authors: Bićanić
authors: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Vrhovac
authors: Department of Oncology, Rebro University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Marija
authors: M
authors: Gamulin
authors: Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Jasna
authors: J
authors: Franekić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008297:Male; D053842:Microsatellite Instability; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Loss of heterozygosity; TGCT; microsatellite instability; non-seminomas; seminomas