Case report

Of Mice and Men: Teratomas and Teratocarcinomas

Floriana Bulić-Jakuš
Monika Ulamec
Maja Vlahović
Nino Sinčić
Ana Katušić
Gordana Jurić-Lekić
Ljiljana Šerman
Božo Krušlin2
Mladen Belicza

Abstract

Teratomas and teratocarcinomas are tumors containing tissue derivatives of all three germ-layers. They can be induced
by transplantation of animal embryos to ectopic microenvironment. Development of malignant teratocarcinomas
depends on embryonic stage, species-specificity and immunological competence of the host. In the man, teratomas and
teratocarcinomas usually represent a subtype of germ-cell tumors but sacrococcygeal teratomas arise from the remnants
of the pluripotent primitive streak. Undifferentiated embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells are responsible for the malignancy
of experimental mouse teratocarcinomas. Mouse EC cells injected to the adult give rise to tumors and upon injection to
early embryos to differentiated tissues – thus resembling normal mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC). Epigenetic changes
rather than mutations are associated with transformation of mESC to EC cells. Human EC and ES cell-lines (hESC)
contain chromosomal abnormalities and can form teratocarcinoma after transplantation. ES cells are among those proposed
for cell replacement therapy in the man. Suicide gene introduction should be recommended prior to their use in
vivo to ablate them in case of malignant transformation.

Keywords

teratoma; teratocarcinoma; embryo; EC cell; ES cell; cell therapy

Hrčak ID:

27640

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/27640

Publication date:

13.12.2006.

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