Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Tissue Biomarker Analysis: A Comparison of Human Protein Atlas and Individual Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Component Immunohistochemistry
Jure Krasic,
Lucija Skara Abramovic,
Marta Himelreich Peric,
Vedran Vanjorek,
Marko Gangur,
Dragana Zovko,
Marina Malnar,
Silvija Masic,
Alma Demirovic,
Bernardica Juric,
Monika Ulamec,
Marijana Coric,
Davor Jezek,
Tomislav Kulis,
Nino Sincic
Affiliations
Jure Krasic
Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Lucija Skara Abramovic
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marta Himelreich Peric
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Vedran Vanjorek
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Gangur
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Dragana Zovko
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marina Malnar
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Silvija Masic
Ljudevit Jurak Clinical Department of Pathology and Cytology, University Clinical Hospital Center Sestre Milosrdnice, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Alma Demirovic
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Bernardica Juric
Ljudevit Jurak Clinical Department of Pathology and Cytology, University Clinical Hospital Center Sestre Milosrdnice, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Monika Ulamec
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marijana Coric
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Davor Jezek
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Tomislav Kulis
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Nino Sincic
Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
The accurate management of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) depends on identifying the individual histological tumor components. Currently available data on protein expression in TGCTs are limited. The human protein atlas (HPA) is a comprehensive resource presenting the expression and localization of proteins across tissue types and diseases. In this study, we have compared the data from the HPA with our in-house immunohistochemistry on core TGCT diagnostic genes to test reliability and potential biomarker genes. We have compared the protein expression of 15 genes in TGCT patients and non-neoplastic testicles with the data from the HPA. Protein expression was converted into diagnostic positivity. Our study discovered discrepancies in three of the six core TGCT diagnostic genes, POU5F1, KIT and SOX17 in HPA. DPPA3, CALCA and TDGF1 were presented as potential novel TGCT biomarkers. MGMT was confirmed while RASSF1 and PRSS21 were identified as biomarkers of healthy testicular tissue. Finally, SALL4, SOX17, RASSF1 and PRSS21 dysregulation in the surrounding testicular tissue with complete preserved spermatogenesis of TGCT patients was detected, a potential early sign of neoplastic transformation. We highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary collaborative approach to fully understand the protein landscape of human testis and its pathologies.
