Peculiarities of catenin activity in the embryonal testicular carcinoma

Abstract

The aim of the research was to study immunohistochemical peculiarities of catenin activity in the embryonal testicular carcinoma. Material is presented by 39 cases of embryonal testicular carcinoma for the period from 1993 to 2013. Macroscopic and histological investigation has been performed according to the WHO classification (2004). Immunohistochemical examination with monoclonal antibodies to Ki-67, β-catenin and E-cadherin were performed. Embryonal carcinoma is presented 12.38% of all testicular germ cell tumors in our observations with median age of patients 30.85±1.16 years. Embryonic cancer of testis has been characterized histologicaly with combination of different areas of the structure: solid, forming a diffuse field, and acinar, tubular and papillary structures with different developed connective tissue background. Tumor cells are characterized by well-defined cytoplasm, polymorphic hyperchromatic nuclei with distinct nucleoli. Embryonic cancer is characterized pronounced reducing of membranous β-catenin expression (that is usual localization of that protein) with uneven level of expression from weak till strong. Simultaneously nuclear positive immunoreactivity has been appeared in embryonic cancer in isolate and grouped cells of tumor. Correlation between Ki-67 and β-catenin expression is 0.562, between E-cadherin and β-catenin is 0.737. It was concluded that immunohistochemical catenin activity must be interpreted accurately in case of embryonal carcinoma of the testis as there is no clear evidence on prognostic importance of neoplastic behavior as it is in some other tumors.