Oncoproteins and tumor suppressor proteins in congenital sacrococcygeal teratomas

Congenital sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is the most common germ cell tumor of infancy and childhood with a female preponderance. Most SCTs are diagnosed at birth, are benign, and consist of fully differentiated, mature tissues. Tumorigenesis of SCTs remains poorly understood. Almost nothing is known about possible oncogene activation or tumor suppressor inactivation in these rare tumors. We describe the presence of various oncoproteins and tumor suppressor proteins in eight cases of congenital SCT. The following oncogenes were examined: ras family (c-H-, c-N-, and c-K-ras), early genes (fos, jun), and tumor suppressor genes (p53 and nm23-H-I). There was no relationship between the intensity of expression of these oncoproteins and tumor suppressor genes and the following parameters: tumor size, age, and survival of the patients. We did not observe any difference, however, between the expression of the examined oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes nm23 and p53 in immature and mature teratomas. Our findings suggest that the ras family of oncogenes, fos and jun oncogenes, and nm23 and p53 tumor suppressor genes are present in congenital SCT, indicating a possible role in genesis and development of these tumors.