Original Article

Are MIB-1, Her2/neu or CD34 useful prognostic factors in stage II and III testicular non-seminomatous germ cell tumors?

  • Selmin Ataergin
  • Ahmet Özet
  • Fikret Arpacı
  • Selim Kılıç
  • Önder Öngürü
  • Melih Alömeroğlu
  • Ömer Günhan

Received Date: 28.04.2008 Accepted Date: 10.10.2008 Gulhane Med J 2008;50(3):196-200

In this study we analyzed immunocytochemical expression of MIB-1, HER2/neu and CD34 in stage II and III testicular non-seminomatous germ cell tumors to investigate if these factors may be useful in determining the prognosis of the disease. Orchiectomy specimens of 64 patients were studied for MIB-1, HER2/neu and CD34 immunostaining. In 47% and 30% of the cases MIB-1 immunostaining level was under the median value in patients with stage II and III disease, respectively. The intensity of immunostaining with CD34 was (+) in 31% of the cases, (++) in 40% of the cases and (+++) in 29% of the cases in stage II tumors. The intensity of CD34 immunostaining was (++) in 26% and (+++) in 73% of the patients with stage III tumors. None of the specimens were stained with HER2/neu. The intensity of CD34 and MIB-1 immunostaining increased with advancing stage. This study revealed that MIB-1, CD34 or HER2/neu immunostaining are not good prognostic factors to predict the survival in patients with stage II and III testicular non-seminomatous germ cell tumors.

Keywords: CD34, HER2/neu, MIB-1, non-seminomatous, testicular germ cell tumor