J Vet Sci. 2009 Mar;10(1):1-7
DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2009.10.1.1
  
 

Comparative immunohistochemical characterization of canine seminomas and Sertoli cell tumors

Chi-Ho Yu1, Du-Na Hwang1, Ji-Young Yhee1, Jong-Hyuk Kim1, Keum-Soon Im1, Whan-Gook Nho2, Young-Soo Lyoo1, Jung-Hyang Sur1,*

 

1Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Small Animal Tumor Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea
2Department of Animal Science, Korea National Agricultural College, Hwaseong 445-760, Korea
* jsur@konkuk.ac.kr

 

Primary testicular tumors are the most common causes of cancer in male dogs. Overall, the majority of canine patients should be cured by testicular surgery. However, tumor markers are not well-known in veterinary medicine. We sought to determine using immunohistochemistry whether the combined human testicular tumor markers (placental alkaline phosphatase, OCT3/4, CD30, alpha-fetoprotein, inhibin-alpha, vimentin, c-KIT, and desmin) are expressed in canine seminomas and Sertoli cell tumors (SCTs). We examined 35 canine testicular tumors, 20 seminomas and 15 SCTs. c-KIT was expressed markedly in canine seminomas. Both inhibin-alpha and vimentin were expressed significantly in canine SCTs. The results of this study demonstrate differences and similarities between tumor marker expression of testicular tumors in dogs and humans. All the main markers in current routine use are discussed as well as potential useful markers for benign and malignant tumors, and tumor progression.