Eukaryotic initiation factor 3 p110 mRNA is overexpressed in testicular seminomas

Testicular germ cell tumors are important neoplasms and seminoma accounts f or 40 to 50% of these tumors. Little is known concerning the molecular even ts underlying the development of these malignancies. In the present study w e used a modified differential display approach to compare gene expression between seminoma and normal testicular parenchyma, both of which are mixed tissues. We first analyzed mRNA (cDNA) expression by differential display a nd then directly used differentially expressed cDNAs for the synthesis of r adiolabeled riboprobes to attribute differential expression to specific cel l types in tissue sections by irt situ hybridization. Using this approach a long with real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain rea ction analysis we found an overexpression of eukaryotic Initiation factor 3 p110 mRNA (EIF3S8) in seminoma cells compared to normal germ cells of test icular tubules. The elF3-p110 subunit may promote seminoma development by g enerally increasing translation leading to enhanced cellular growth and div ision rates.