Background
Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) are the most common malignancies in young men at the age of 15 to 40 years [
1]. The incidence has constantly increased over the last 40 years [
2]. TGCTs are histologically and clinically grouped into seminomas (SEM) and non-seminomas. Non-seminomas are further subdivided into embryonic carcinomas (EC), yolk sac tumours (YST), chorionic carcinomas (CC), and teratomas (TER) [
3].
The distinction between the different histological tumour types is important for the therapeutic management. Several immunohistochemical markers have been established to differentiate these tumour types. Intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified (IGCNU) and seminomas show an expression of D2-40, CD117, OCT3/4, and SALL4 in most of cases [
4-
7]. Embryonic carcinomas express OCT3/4, NANOG, CD30, Sox-2, and cytokeratin [
4,
8,
9]. YST express cytokeratin, glypican-3, and alpha-feto protein (AFP), albeit the latter, being represented in only about 50% of all cases [
10,
11]. In addition to their expression in YST, AFP and Glypican-3 are expressed in hepatic tumours [
12,
13]. In the context of AFP and Glypican-3 CK19 is used as a cell marker of the hepatic biliary tract [
14] and its progenitor cells [
15].
In addition to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [
16] and hepatocellular carcinoma [
17] several other tumours have been shown to express CK19, including papillary thyroid carcinoma [
18], breast cancer [
19], lung cancer [
20].
New biomarkers, which are useful for the diagnosis of YST are rare. In this study we will introduce CK19 as a new relevant marker for YST within the group of TGCT.
Discussion
YST are rare malignant germ cell tumour of the testis. They occur in about 44% of cases in adults as a component of a mixed tumour, whereas pure YST are rare at this age [
21,
22]. Pure YST are the second most common malignant germ cell tumours of infancy [
23,
24]. YST show many different growth patterns such as the reticular/microcystic, macrocystic, solid, hepatoid, enteric, glandular/alveolar, papillary, endodermal-sinus-like or myxomatous polyvesikular [
25] subtype. Although the distinction of these (several) growth patterns is not essential for therapy, the vast morphological diversity complicates the diagnosis of YST. In this study we looked for a new sensitive marker, which can be used for the differential diagnosis of YST.
The keratin family constitutes the intermediate filament proteins responsible for the structural integrity of epithelial cells and is subdivided into cytokeratins and hair keratins. CK19 is the smallest acidic cytokeratin [
26]. CK19 expression has been detected in several types of human cancers, including papillary thyroid carcinoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and HCC [
16-
20].
All 29 examined YST showed strong CK19 expression. This expression was also found in mixed germ cell tumours consisting of more than one histological type and could be used to distinguish YST from other germ cell tumour components. In 1987 Bartokva et al. described a (focal) CK19 expression in 14 examined embryonic carcinomas [
27]. In our study, however, CK19 expression could not be detected in a total number of 56 embryonic carcinomas. This became particularly evident in mixed tumours consisting of YST and embryonic carcinomas. Furthermore, CK19 expression was also confirmed in metastases of an YST in the omentum majus, lung, lymph nodes, and in a primary YST of the ovary. Glypican-3 as an established marker for YST could also be observed in all analysed cases of YST, whereas AFP showed an expression in only 18 out of 29 cases.
We found CK19 expression in the two analysed chorionic carcinomas as described also by Clark et al. [
28]. All other analysed cases of malignant and non-malignant tumours of the testis did not show CK19 expression. Because glypican-3 can be also expressed in chorionic carcinoma, this tumour has to be excluded by morphological criteria and expression of β-HCG [
10,
11].
For the diagnosis of YST several markers such as Keratin, Glypican-3 or in some cases AFP can be used. CK19 proves to be an additional useful positive marker which can be used together with these established markers, especially Glypican-3.
It has been shown previously that cells of hepatocellular carcinomas expressing e.g. CK19 may result from dedifferentiation of hepatocytes into a progenitor cell/biliary phenotype [
29,
30]. According to the diagnostic role of CK19 in yolk sack tumours as we described in this study, CK19 expression might be a clue for differentiation to a hepatocyte or biliary phenotype in this tumour entity. This would be in line with the known expression of glypican-3 or AFP in these tumours.
CK19 is widely applied as a post-operative diagnostic marker of papillary thyroid carcinoma. It is mandatory to elucidate further whether this holds true also for YST.
Conclusion
CK19 proved to be a sensitive marker for the diagnosis of a primary YST of the testis and metastases. Its expression can be used to differentiate YST of the testis from other germ cell tumours and sex cord/gonadal stroma tumours. In addition, CK19 may be a possible and helpful pre/post-operative serum marker of YST.
Acknowledgements
Felix Bremmer is supported by the research program, faculty of medicine, Georg-August-University Göttingen. We thank Valerie Unterkircher for excellent technical assistance.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions
FB and CLB drafted the manuscript and performed microscopic and histopathologic investigations. NTG, SS and HJR were responsible for microscopic, histopathologic elements and participated in pathological investigations. FB, CLB and JS were responsible for analysis and interpretation of the data. HJ and PS were responsible for critical revision of the manuscript. AS was responsible for the clinical data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.