Abstract
Despite its alarming appearance, spermatocytic seminoma virtually never metastasizes. We hypothesized that this paradox may at least be partially related to increased apoptosis compared to metastasizing germ cell tumors since high expression of proapoptotic factors correlates with indolent behavior in other tumor systems, notably CD30-positive cutaneous lymphoma, another neoplasm where phenotype and behavior do not match. We therefore compared apoptosis and apoptotic regulators in 17 spermatocytic seminomas (2 with sarcoma) and 18 usual seminomas by light microscopy and using immunostains for caspase-3, p53, bcl-2, bcl-xL, FADD, FAS and survivin. We found significantly greater numbers of apoptotic cells and activated caspase-3-positive cells in spermatocytic seminoma compared to usual seminoma (P<0.01). There was over a 10-fold range in apoptotic cells in usual seminoma but only a 4-fold variation in spermatocytic seminoma. Spermatocytic seminoma had decreased p53 expression compared to usual seminoma, with marked variation in bcl-2 expression and increased FADD. The two sarcomas in spermatocytic seminoma, however, showed decreased apoptosis and caspase-3 reactivity, with upregulation of p53 and bcl-2 and decreased FADD expression. We conclude that apoptosis, caspase-3 and FADD expression are increased in spermatocytic seminoma compared to usual seminoma. Apoptotic parameters are decreased in sarcomatous transformation of spermatocytic seminoma. The increased apoptosis of spermatocytic seminoma, possibly mediated by FAS independent activation of the death receptor pathway, may provide some insight into its excellent prognosis. The variation in apoptosis of usual seminomas merits investigation as a prognostic parameter.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1036-1044 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Modern Pathology |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2007 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Apoptosis
- Proapoptotic factors
- Seminoma
- Spermatocytic seminoma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Cite this
Apoptosis in spermatocytic and usual seminomas : A light microscopic and immunohistochemical study. / Bishop, Elena F.; Badve, Sunil; Morimiya, Akira; Saxena, Rashmil; Ulbright, Thomas.
In: Modern Pathology, Vol. 20, No. 10, 10.2007, p. 1036-1044.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Apoptosis in spermatocytic and usual seminomas
T2 - A light microscopic and immunohistochemical study
AU - Bishop, Elena F.
AU - Badve, Sunil
AU - Morimiya, Akira
AU - Saxena, Rashmil
AU - Ulbright, Thomas
PY - 2007/10
Y1 - 2007/10
N2 - Despite its alarming appearance, spermatocytic seminoma virtually never metastasizes. We hypothesized that this paradox may at least be partially related to increased apoptosis compared to metastasizing germ cell tumors since high expression of proapoptotic factors correlates with indolent behavior in other tumor systems, notably CD30-positive cutaneous lymphoma, another neoplasm where phenotype and behavior do not match. We therefore compared apoptosis and apoptotic regulators in 17 spermatocytic seminomas (2 with sarcoma) and 18 usual seminomas by light microscopy and using immunostains for caspase-3, p53, bcl-2, bcl-xL, FADD, FAS and survivin. We found significantly greater numbers of apoptotic cells and activated caspase-3-positive cells in spermatocytic seminoma compared to usual seminoma (P<0.01). There was over a 10-fold range in apoptotic cells in usual seminoma but only a 4-fold variation in spermatocytic seminoma. Spermatocytic seminoma had decreased p53 expression compared to usual seminoma, with marked variation in bcl-2 expression and increased FADD. The two sarcomas in spermatocytic seminoma, however, showed decreased apoptosis and caspase-3 reactivity, with upregulation of p53 and bcl-2 and decreased FADD expression. We conclude that apoptosis, caspase-3 and FADD expression are increased in spermatocytic seminoma compared to usual seminoma. Apoptotic parameters are decreased in sarcomatous transformation of spermatocytic seminoma. The increased apoptosis of spermatocytic seminoma, possibly mediated by FAS independent activation of the death receptor pathway, may provide some insight into its excellent prognosis. The variation in apoptosis of usual seminomas merits investigation as a prognostic parameter.
AB - Despite its alarming appearance, spermatocytic seminoma virtually never metastasizes. We hypothesized that this paradox may at least be partially related to increased apoptosis compared to metastasizing germ cell tumors since high expression of proapoptotic factors correlates with indolent behavior in other tumor systems, notably CD30-positive cutaneous lymphoma, another neoplasm where phenotype and behavior do not match. We therefore compared apoptosis and apoptotic regulators in 17 spermatocytic seminomas (2 with sarcoma) and 18 usual seminomas by light microscopy and using immunostains for caspase-3, p53, bcl-2, bcl-xL, FADD, FAS and survivin. We found significantly greater numbers of apoptotic cells and activated caspase-3-positive cells in spermatocytic seminoma compared to usual seminoma (P<0.01). There was over a 10-fold range in apoptotic cells in usual seminoma but only a 4-fold variation in spermatocytic seminoma. Spermatocytic seminoma had decreased p53 expression compared to usual seminoma, with marked variation in bcl-2 expression and increased FADD. The two sarcomas in spermatocytic seminoma, however, showed decreased apoptosis and caspase-3 reactivity, with upregulation of p53 and bcl-2 and decreased FADD expression. We conclude that apoptosis, caspase-3 and FADD expression are increased in spermatocytic seminoma compared to usual seminoma. Apoptotic parameters are decreased in sarcomatous transformation of spermatocytic seminoma. The increased apoptosis of spermatocytic seminoma, possibly mediated by FAS independent activation of the death receptor pathway, may provide some insight into its excellent prognosis. The variation in apoptosis of usual seminomas merits investigation as a prognostic parameter.
KW - Apoptosis
KW - Proapoptotic factors
KW - Seminoma
KW - Spermatocytic seminoma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34548765546&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34548765546&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/modpathol.3800933
DO - 10.1038/modpathol.3800933
M3 - Article
C2 - 17643097
AN - SCOPUS:34548765546
VL - 20
SP - 1036
EP - 1044
JO - Modern Pathology
JF - Modern Pathology
SN - 0893-3952
IS - 10
ER -