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The platelet‐derived growth factor α‐receptor 1.5 kb transcript: Target for molecular detection of testicular germ cell tumours of adolescents and adults
Author(s) -
OOSTERHUIS J. WOLTER,
GILLIS AD J. M.,
ROOZENDAAL CORNELIUS E. P.,
ZOELEN EVERARDUS J. J.,
LOOIJENGA LEENDERT H. J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1998.tb01337.x
Subject(s) - biology , polymerase chain reaction , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction , germ cell , pathology , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , cancer research , gene , messenger rna , medicine , immunology , genetics
An accurate and relatively simple method to detect testicular germ cell tumours of adolescents and adults (TGCTs) could be useful for early detection and may help to avoid unnecessary orchidectomies. We report a highly sensitive reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction assay for the 1.5 kb transcript of the platelet‐derived growth factor‐α receptor for molecular diagnosis of TGCTs. As a simulation of the clinical application of the assay the approach was applied on through‐cut‐biopsies from orchidectomy specimens. In a series of 31 specimens, the 1.5 kb transcript was detected in all samples containing either carcinoma in situ , or an invasive TGCT, with mature teratoma as only exception. No expression was detected in normal parenchyma. On the basis of the through‐cut‐biopsies the assay shows a sensitivity of 0.87 and a specificity of 1.00. The positive and negative predictive values of the test are 1.00 and 1.00. For carcinoma in situ alone these values are 0.86, 1.00, 1.00, and 0.80, respectively. The figures at least equal the results obtained with the most sensitive morphological/enzyme‐histochemical study of duplicate biopsies. We conclude that the 1.5 kb transcript of the platelet‐derived growth factor‐α receptor is a useful molecular marker for TGCTs, and therefore of interest in a clinical setting.