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Overexpression of anti‐apoptotic Mcl‐1 in testicular germ cell tumours
Author(s) -
Sano M,
Nakanishi Y,
Yagasaki H,
Honma T,
Oinuma T,
Obana Y,
Suzuki A,
Nemoto N
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2005.02118.x
Subject(s) - germ cell , biology , choriocarcinoma , immunohistochemistry , cancer research , carcinogenesis , yolk sac , embryonal carcinoma , apoptosis , germ cell tumors , pathology , cellular differentiation , cancer , embryo , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , gene , chemotherapy , genetics
Aims: To determine the expression of Mcl‐1 in testicular germ cell tumours in order to clarify the role of this anti‐apoptotic factor in these tumours. Various members of the Bcl‐2 family have been implicated in the apoptotic mechanisms regulating germ cell apoptosis. Mcl‐1 is an anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 family member and has recently been reported to be related to the progression of malignancy; however, the involvement of Mcl‐1 in the development of germ cell tumours is still unknown. Methods and results: Mcl‐1 expression in testicular germ cell tumours was investigated by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). By immunohistochemistry, overexpression of Mcl‐1 was present in all germ cell tumours that were studied, including embryonal carcinoma and yolk sac tumour, as well as choriocarcinoma and teratoma. In teratomas, Mcl‐1 was widely distributed in the epithelial, myogenic, neural and mesenchymal components. RT‐PCR analysis after microdissection revealed high levels of Mcl‐1 mRNA in all tumour variants compared with non‐neoplastic germ cells. Conclusion: Overexpression of anti‐apoptotic Mcl‐1 may function to enhance the viability of testicular germ cells, thereby leading to tumorigenesis.