Germ cell origin of testicular carcinoid tumors

Phillip H. Abbosh, Shaobo Zhang, Gregory T. MacLennan, Rodolfo Montironi, Antonio Lopez-Beltran, Joseph P. Rank, Lee Ann Baldridge, Liang Cheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Carcinoids are neuroendocrine tumors and most frequently occur within tissues derived fromthe embryonic gut.These tumors can occur in any organ site but are rare in the testis. The cell type giving rise to testicular carcinoid is unknown. We hypothesized that testicular carcinoid may have a germ cell origin. Experimental Design: We describe our analysis of protein and genetic markers of germ cell neoplasia, using immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, in four testicular carcinoid tumors. Results: All four cases of testicular carcinoid tumor arose in a background of mature teratoma. Isochromosome 12p was identified in carcinoid tumor cells in all four samples.12p overrepresentation was also observed in three cases. Isochromosome 12p and 12p overrepresentation were present in cells of coexisting mature teratoma in three cases. Carcinoid tumors showed strong immunoreactivity for synaptophysin and chromogranin, but no immunoreactivity for OCT4, CD30, c-kit, TTF-1, and CDX2. Membranous and cytoplasmic staining for β-catenin was detected in three cases. Conclusion:Our findings suggest that testicular carcinoid represents a phenotypic expression of testicular teratoma and is of germ cell origin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1393-1396
Number of pages4
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume14
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2008

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
  • Carcinoid Tumor/genetics
  • Chromogranins/metabolism
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12/genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Male
  • Synaptophysin/metabolism
  • Testicular Neoplasms/genetics
  • beta Catenin/metabolism

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