engleski

Alterations of Selected Genes in Human Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

Human testicular germ cell tumors are histologically heterogenous neoplasms with variable malignant potential. Two main types of germ cell tumors occur in men: seminomas and nonseminomas. In the present study a set of genes (protoncogene and tumor suppressor genes) was investigated in testicular cancers. K-ras protooncogene was tested for activating point mutations, and CDH1, APC, p53 and nm23-H1 tumor suppressor genes for loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Three seminomas and eight nonseminomas were analysed by PCR using restriction fragment length polymorphism, dinucleotide or tetranucleotide repeat polymorphism method. The results of our analysis showed that the most frequent changes were LOH of p53. Allelic loss of p53 was detected in three nonseminomas. Allelic losses of APC gene were present in one seminoma and one nonseminoma, whereas another seminoma and one nonseminoma showed LOH of CDH1. Analysis of heterozygosity has shown no consistent structural genetic alterations in tumor tissues. Although limited number of samples have been analysed so far, these findings are in accordance with the results of similar studies performed on testicular cancers.

testicular germ cell tumor; seminoma; nonseminoma; protoncogene; tumor suppressor gene; point mutation; loss of heterozygosity

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