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C-kit Expression in Germinoma: An Munohistochemistry-based Study

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Summary

In our immunohistochemical study of 25 human primary intracranial germinomas and germinomas with syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells (STGC), we stained the same sections for c-kit and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). Immunohistochemical expression was graded using a semi-quantitative scoring system where 3+ = 51–75%, and 4+ = 76–100%. Of the 25 cases, 7 (28%) were graded 3+ and 18 (72%) 4+ for c-kit; 8 (32%) were 3+ or 4+ for PLAP. All 3 cases negative for PLAP-staining were strongly positive and all embryonal carcinomas, immature teratomas, and yolk sac tumors were negative for c-kit staining. The soluble isoform of c-kit (s-kit) is reportedly detectable in cerebral spinal fluid of patients with germinomas and germinomas with STGC. C-kit and s-kit may be powerful tumor markers for germinomas with or without STGC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, 860-8556 , Kumamoto, Japan

    Hideo Nakamura, Keishi Makino & Jun-ichi Kuratsu

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan

    Hideo Takeshima

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  1. Hideo Nakamura
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  2. Hideo Takeshima
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  3. Keishi Makino
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  4. Jun-ichi Kuratsu
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Correspondence to Hideo Nakamura.

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Nakamura, H., Takeshima, H., Makino, K. et al. C-kit Expression in Germinoma: An Munohistochemistry-based Study. J Neurooncol 75, 163–167 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-005-1593-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-005-1593-1

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