Frequent Occurrence of Activated ras Oncogenes in Seminomas but Not in Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors

Little is known about the genetic basis of the development of human testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). A common chromosomal abnormality, isochromosome 12p, has been demonstrated in seminomas and non-seminomatous TGCTs (Atkin and Baker 1988), but it is not known whether any particular gene is specifically affected as a result of this aberration. Also, activation of oncogenes has not yet been described for germ cell tumors.