Ber-H2 expression in testicular germ cell tumors

Expression of CD30 antigen using the monoclonal antibody Ber-H2 was investigated in 52 testicular tumors: pure seminoma (19 cases), pure embryonal carcinoma (eight cases), and mixed germ cell tumors (25 cases). None of the seminomas expressed Ber-H2, whereas seven of eight pure embryonal carcinomas contained this antigen. In mixed germ cell tumors Ber-H2 was present in none of 10 seminomatous components, none of seven yolk sac tumor components, and 20 of 24 embryonal carcinoma components. Teratomatous elements (16 cases) failed to stain with Ber-H2. Also, foci of intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN) (31 cases) failed to express Ber-H2. Ber-H2 is useful in distinguishing embryonal carcinoma from seminoma and yolk sac tumor. The failure of expression of Ber-H2 in ITGCN, as in seminoma, supports the close relationship of seminoma with ITGCN.