Lack of Bcl10 mutations in testicular germ cell tumours and derived cell lines

Aberrations within Bcl10, a gene involved in execution of apoptosis, has mo st recently been found in a variety of cancers, including cell lines of tes ticular germ cell tumours of adolescents and adults (TGCTs). To study this in more detail, we screened exons 2 and 3 of this gene for mutations in a l arger series of cell lines as well as primary TGCTs by single-strand confor mation polymorphism and endonuclease restriction analysis. Because no aberr ations were detected, we conclude that inactivation of Bcl10 by mutation is at least far less important in the development of TGCTs than proposed.