Epidermal growth factor receptor is a marker for syncytiotrophoblastic cells in testicular germ cell tumors

Abstract

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been implicated in the pathogenesis, therapy and prognosis of various tumor types. The aim of this study was to investigate EGFR expression in a large series of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). A total of 88 TGCTs (37 of pure type and 51 of mixed type) comprising a total of 44 seminoma, 49 embryonal carcinoma, 32 yolk sac tumor, 28 teratoma and 7 choriocarcinoma components were immunostained for EGFR. EGFR reactivity was observed in the stromal cells of embryonal carcinoma (29%) and in epithelial compartments of teratoma (71%). In addition, EGFR staining was consistently detected in syncytiotrophoblastic cells of choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma and yolk sac tumor components. EGFR staining, similar to beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) immunohistochemistry, was efficiently able to identify syncytiotrophoblastic cells in TGCTs. This study shows that EGFR is expressed in a subset of testicular germ cell tumors and suggests that EGFR may be a useful marker for syncytiotrophoblastic cells.

Oncofetal protein glypican-3 in testicular germ-cell tumor

“…Pluripotent potential germ-cell neoplasms, like IGCNU, seminoma, and embryonal carcinoma, are labeled with antibodies against PLAP, c-KIT [12], OCT3/4 (POU5F1) [15], and CD30 [18]. On the other hand, for differentiated GCT, several growth factors, growth factor receptors, and transcription factors have been reported in neoplastic cells but with various frequencies and variable specificity [8,11,21]. This study confirmed the outstanding specificity of GPC3 to differentiated GCT, such as in "the double layer pattern", glandular structures of embryonal carcinoma encircled by a row of flattened YST cells [1,3], in MGCT in which OCT3/4 and GPC3 immunoreactivities were mutually exclusive.…”

Expression of EGFR, HER-2/neu and KIT in germ cell tumours

“…The EGFR staining data is consistent with previous reports by other authors ( Table 4). The expression of this marker has been mostly associated to NSGCTs and particularly prevalent in pure choriocarcinomas or the choriocarcinomatous components of mixed forms [11][12][13][14]. In our series, EGFR expression showed an inverse association with tumour response of borderline significance.…”

“…Hechelhammer [14] 88 and the seminomatous components of mixed tumours Izquierdo [17] 60 Heterogeneous (NSGCT and SGCT) KIT 100% SGCT (membrane staining) 32%…”

Management of poor‐prognosis or relapsed germ‐cell cancer

“…EGF receptor (EGFR) overexpression is seen in many solid tumours, but in GCTs no EGFR reactivity was detected in 44 seminomas or in 32 yolk sac tumours [51]. In teratomas 20/28 overexpressed EGFR, as did all seven choriocarcinomas [51]. These findings were confirmed in other studies.…”

“…One study targeting the epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathway with gefitinib has stopped including patients, but the treatment results have not yet been published. EGF receptor (EGFR) overexpression is seen in many solid tumours, but in GCTs no EGFR reactivity was detected in 44 seminomas or in 32 yolk sac tumours [51]. In teratomas 20/28 overexpressed EGFR, as did all seven choriocarcinomas [51].…”