TY - JOUR
T1 - Testicular mixed germ cell tumors
T2 - A morphological and immunohistochemical study using stem cell markers, OCT3/4, SOX2 and GDF3, with emphasis on morphologically difficult-to-classify areas
AU - Gopalan, Anuradha
AU - Dhall, Deepti
AU - Olgac, Semra
AU - Fine, Samson W.
AU - Korkola, James E.
AU - Houldsworth, Jane
AU - Chaganti, Raju S.
AU - Bosl, George J.
AU - Reuter, Victor E.
AU - Tickoo, Satish K.
PY - 2009/8
Y1 - 2009/8
N2 - Stem cell markers, OCT3/4, and more recently SOX2 and growth differentiation factor 3 (GDF3), have been reported to be expressed variably in germ cell tumors. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of these markers in different testicular germ cell tumors, and their utility in the differential diagnosis of morphologically difficult-to-classify components of these tumors. A total of 50 mixed testicular germ cell tumors, 43 also containing difficult-to-classify areas, were studied. In these areas, multiple morphological parameters were noted, and high-grade nuclear details similar to typical embryonal carcinoma were considered embryonal carcinoma-like high-grade. Immunohistochemical staining for OCT3/4, c-kit, CD30, SOX2, and GDF3 was performed and graded in each component as 0, negative; 1, 1-25%; 2, 26-50%; and 3, 50% positive staining cells. The different components identified in these tumors were seminoma (8), embryonal carcinoma (50), yolk sac tumor (40), teratoma (40), choriocarcinoma (3) and intra-tubular germ cell neoplasia, unclassified (35). By immunohistochemistry, the staining patterns were OCT3/4 3, all seminomas, embryonal carcinomas and intra-tubular germ cell neoplasia; SOX2 3, all embryonal carcinomas and 2 to 3, 11/14 (79%) primitive neuroectodermal components in immature teratomas; GDF3 2 to 3, all yolk sac tumors, seminomas and intra-tubular germ cell neoplasia and 1 to 2, 40/50 embryonal carcinomas. A total of 34/43 (79%) of difficult-to-classify areas stained 3 for OCT3/4, CD30, and SOX2, similar to embryonal carcinoma. Among these areas, only embryonal carcinoma-like high-grade nuclear details were significantly associated with such an immunophenotype. Thus, SOX2 is expressed in embryonal carcinoma and primitive neuroectoderm of teratoma, and unlike OCT3/4, not in intra-tubular germ cell neoplasia and seminoma. Therefore, it may be useful in the distinction of seminoma from embryonal carcinoma, and potentially in diagnosing early carcinomatous differentiation in seminoma. GDF3 positivity, in the absence of OCT3/4 and CD30, combined with morphological features, is helpful in the diagnosis of yolk sac tumor. Embryonal carcinoma-like high-grade nuclear details are the most important morphological criterion for the diagnosis of embryonal carcinoma in difficult-to-classify areas.
AB - Stem cell markers, OCT3/4, and more recently SOX2 and growth differentiation factor 3 (GDF3), have been reported to be expressed variably in germ cell tumors. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of these markers in different testicular germ cell tumors, and their utility in the differential diagnosis of morphologically difficult-to-classify components of these tumors. A total of 50 mixed testicular germ cell tumors, 43 also containing difficult-to-classify areas, were studied. In these areas, multiple morphological parameters were noted, and high-grade nuclear details similar to typical embryonal carcinoma were considered embryonal carcinoma-like high-grade. Immunohistochemical staining for OCT3/4, c-kit, CD30, SOX2, and GDF3 was performed and graded in each component as 0, negative; 1, 1-25%; 2, 26-50%; and 3, 50% positive staining cells. The different components identified in these tumors were seminoma (8), embryonal carcinoma (50), yolk sac tumor (40), teratoma (40), choriocarcinoma (3) and intra-tubular germ cell neoplasia, unclassified (35). By immunohistochemistry, the staining patterns were OCT3/4 3, all seminomas, embryonal carcinomas and intra-tubular germ cell neoplasia; SOX2 3, all embryonal carcinomas and 2 to 3, 11/14 (79%) primitive neuroectodermal components in immature teratomas; GDF3 2 to 3, all yolk sac tumors, seminomas and intra-tubular germ cell neoplasia and 1 to 2, 40/50 embryonal carcinomas. A total of 34/43 (79%) of difficult-to-classify areas stained 3 for OCT3/4, CD30, and SOX2, similar to embryonal carcinoma. Among these areas, only embryonal carcinoma-like high-grade nuclear details were significantly associated with such an immunophenotype. Thus, SOX2 is expressed in embryonal carcinoma and primitive neuroectoderm of teratoma, and unlike OCT3/4, not in intra-tubular germ cell neoplasia and seminoma. Therefore, it may be useful in the distinction of seminoma from embryonal carcinoma, and potentially in diagnosing early carcinomatous differentiation in seminoma. GDF3 positivity, in the absence of OCT3/4 and CD30, combined with morphological features, is helpful in the diagnosis of yolk sac tumor. Embryonal carcinoma-like high-grade nuclear details are the most important morphological criterion for the diagnosis of embryonal carcinoma in difficult-to-classify areas.
KW - GDF3
KW - Germ cell tumors
KW - OCT3/4
KW - SOX2
KW - Stem cell
KW - Testis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68249119921&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=68249119921&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/modpathol.2009.66
DO - 10.1038/modpathol.2009.66
M3 - Article
C2 - 19396148
AN - SCOPUS:68249119921
SN - 0893-3952
VL - 22
SP - 1066
EP - 1074
JO - Modern Pathology
JF - Modern Pathology
IS - 8
ER -