Cystathionine Gamma-Lyase Is Increased in Testicular Seminomas, Embryonal, and Yolk Sac Tumors.

BACKGROUND

Testicular cancer constitutes 1.0% of male cancer and typically carries a good prognosis. As far as we are aware, the role for hydrogen sulfide in testicular cancer and the level of hydrogen sulfide-synthesizing enzyme have never been addressed. Here we examined cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) expression in several germ-cell testicular tumors.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Tissue microarrays were employed to examine CSE expression in 32 benign testicular samples, 88 testicular seminomas, 34 embryonal carcinomas, 4 mature teratomas, and 16 yolk sac tumors, and CSE expression was compared to that seen in benign testicular tissue.

RESULTS

Compared to benign testicular tissue, CSE expression was increased in all three types of testicular neoplasm but not in mature teratomas. Highest CSE expression was identified in embryonal carcinomas, which often show a relatively aggressive clinical course.

CONCLUSION

For the first time, we show that CSE is increased in several common testicular germ-cell tumor types.