Abstract
The term germ cell neoplasia is used today histogenetically to define a rather heterogeneous group of tumors whose origin and morphogenesis can be best explained by postulating that they all originate from germ cells. Since most germ cells reside in the gonads, germ cell tumors are predominantly located in the testis and the ovary. However, morphologically identical tumors occur in extragonadal sites as well, raising at least some doubts about an obligatory germ cell derivation of these neoplasms. Is it possible that some of the extragonadal tumors are not of germ cell origin but rather derived from developmentally pluripotent embryonic or even extraembryonic cells displaced to these sites during the development? Are the stem cells in all the germ cell tumors of man, irrespective of their origin, identical or do they bear unique features imprinted during their development in different sites? Are the stem cells of a monomorphic, developmentally nullipotent embryonal carcinoma (EC) equivalent to the stem cells of a teratocarcinoma (mixed germ cell tumor)? Developmentally they are obviously different since the nullipotent EC cannot differentiate into many other cells and tissues, whereas the stem cells of teratocarcinoma give rise to various somatic and extraembryonic cell forms. However, since these cells are morphologically indistinguishable from one another and may express the same cell surface antigens (Andrews 1988), one would be inclined to conclude that they are indeed identical. However, what should take precedence for taxonomic purposes: the developmental potential or the cell phenotype? Could the chromosomal and genetic markers help out in this respect and what would represent the conclusive evidence that would definitively resolve all the dilemmas?KeywordsGerm CellGerm Cell TumorEmbryonal CarcinomaPrimordial Germ CellTesticular TumorThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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