446 Enhanced expression of c-myc, N-myc, c-Ha-ras 1, c-erb B-2/neu, c-fos and c-jun in human germ cell tumors

The presence of c-myc, N-myc, c-Ha-ras 1, c-erb B-2/neu, c-fos, and c-jun was investigated in biopsy specimens from 20 patients with various types of germ cell tumors. The expression of the oncogenes was demonstrated by in situ hybridization. C-myc oncogene expression was found in 10/20 of tumors including 2 embryonal carcinomas, in one Leydig cell tumor, in 3 embryonal carcinomas with seminomas, in one immature teratoma with seminoma, in one immature teratoma with choriocarcinoma, in one embryonal carcinoma with immature teratoma, and in one mature teratoma. N-myc was observed in 8/20 of tumors including 2 embryonal carcinomas, in 3 embryonal carcinomas with seminomas, in one embryonal carcinoma with immature teratoma, in one immature teratoma with choriocarcinoma, and one immature teratoma with seminoma. C-Ha-ras 1 oncogene expression was found in 7/20 tumors including 2 embryonal carcinomas, in one mature teratoma, in the benign Leydig cell tumor, in 2 embryonal carcinomas with seminomas, and in one embryonal carcinoma with immature teratoma. Expression of c-erb B-2/neu oncogene could be identified in benign Leydig cell tumor only. C-fos was expressed in 12/20 tumors including in the benign Leydig cell tumor, in 4 pure seminomas, in 3 embryonal carcinomas with seminomas, in 2 immature teratomas, and in one immature teratoma with choriocarcinoma. C-jun expression was observed in 14/20 tumors, including in 6 pure seminomas, in the benign Leydig cell tumor, in 2 immature teratomas, in one mature teratoma, in 2 embryonal carcinomas with seminomas, in one immature teratoma with choriocarcinoma, and in one embryonal carcinoma with immature teratoma. The evidence of these oncogenes in human testicular cancer is consistent with the view, that alterations of these oncogenes playa role in the pathogenesis of this tumor type.