TY - JOUR
T1 - TdT expression in germ cell tumours
T2 - A possible immunohistochemical cross-reaction and diagnostic pitfall
AU - Jaconi, Marta
AU - Magni, Fulvio
AU - Raimondo, Francesca
AU - Ponzoni, Maurilio
AU - Chinello, Clizia
AU - Smith, Andrew
AU - Piga, Isabella
AU - Fusco, Nicola
AU - Di Bella, Camillo
AU - Pagni, Fabio
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Aims: Very recent papers proposed a possible role for the expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) in the tumourigenesis of gonadal and extragonadal germ cell-derived tumours (GCTs). Our multicentric study evaluated the magnitude of the immunoreactivity for TdT in GCTs, encompassing seminoma, dysgerminoma, mature teratoma and mixed GCTs. Methods and results: The histological series was stained with both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, yielding a positivity of 80% of cases with well-defined nuclear reactivity. A significant difference in staining intensity between monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies was observed (p=0.005). However, exploiting western blot and more innovative proteomic approaches, no clear-cut evidence of the TdT protein was observed in the neoplastic tissues of the series. Conclusions: Alternatively to the pathogenetic link between TdT expression and GCTs tumourigenesis, we hypothesised the occurrence of a spurious immunohistochemical nuclear cross-reaction, a well-known phenomenon with important implications and a possible source of diagnostic pitfalls in routine practice for pathologists.
AB - Aims: Very recent papers proposed a possible role for the expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) in the tumourigenesis of gonadal and extragonadal germ cell-derived tumours (GCTs). Our multicentric study evaluated the magnitude of the immunoreactivity for TdT in GCTs, encompassing seminoma, dysgerminoma, mature teratoma and mixed GCTs. Methods and results: The histological series was stained with both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, yielding a positivity of 80% of cases with well-defined nuclear reactivity. A significant difference in staining intensity between monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies was observed (p=0.005). However, exploiting western blot and more innovative proteomic approaches, no clear-cut evidence of the TdT protein was observed in the neoplastic tissues of the series. Conclusions: Alternatively to the pathogenetic link between TdT expression and GCTs tumourigenesis, we hypothesised the occurrence of a spurious immunohistochemical nuclear cross-reaction, a well-known phenomenon with important implications and a possible source of diagnostic pitfalls in routine practice for pathologists.
KW - differential diagnosis
KW - genital system
KW - germinal cell tumor
KW - haematopoietic
KW - seminoma
KW - tdt
KW - terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase
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U2 - 10.1136/jclinpath-2019-205713
DO - 10.1136/jclinpath-2019-205713
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85065256683
VL - 72
SP - 536
EP - 541
JO - Journal of Clinical Pathology - Clinical Molecular Pathology
JF - Journal of Clinical Pathology - Clinical Molecular Pathology
SN - 0021-9746
IS - 8
ER -