title: RNA-binding protein LIN28 is a sensitive marker of pediatric yolk sac tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  RNA-binding protein LIN28 is involved in maintaining the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. It has been detected in different types of testicular and ovarian germ cell tumors (GCTs), but its status in pediatric YSTs (yolk sac tumors) is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the immunohistochemical profile of LIN28 in pediatric YSTs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemistry detection of LIN28 was performed in 22 cases of pediatric YSTs and 10 mature teratomas. The percentage of tumor cells stained was scored as 0, 1+ (1-30 % cells), 2+ (31-60 %), 3+ (61-90 %), and 4+ (>90 %). To compare its sensitive and specificity with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), we also stained AFP in 22 cases of pediatric YSTs and 10 mature teratomas in children. LIN28 staining was high in all 22 pediatric yolk sac tumor (2+ in 1, 3+ in 1, and 4+ in 20), and weak staining of LIN28 was seen in 1 of 10 mature teratomas (1+), 9 of 10 mature teratomas were negative expression. However, the expression of AFP in pediatric YST was lower compared with Lin28 (- in 1, 1+ in 8, 2+ in 12, and 3+ in 1), and weak expression of AFP was seen in 2 of 10 mature teratomas (1+), 8 of 10 mature teratomas were negative. LIN28 had higher intensity expression than AFP in pediatric YSTs (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LIN28 is a sensitive marker for pediatric YSTs and it can be used to distinguish them from mature teratomas. LIN28 is likely to become a new and valuable biomarker for diagnosing of pediatric YST.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hangzhou Children's Hospital, No. 195 Wenhui Rd, Xiacheng District, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shaoguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Songsong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yulong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhongliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Delei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Dazhou
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Inflammation and Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xin-He
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China. jackiefung@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000378:metabolism; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000715187:Lin28A protein, human; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
keywords: AFP; Immunohistochemistry (IHC); LIN28; Pediatric; Yolk sac tumor