Owing to this specific pattern of expression during embryogenesis, which is retained during the process of malignant transformation, OCT3/4 is an established and highly informative diagnostic marker for defined types of malignant germ cell tumours (GCTs), especially those of the seminomatous cell type (seminoma (SE), dysgerminoma and germinoma) and embryonal carcinoma (Looijenga et al, 2003; de Jong and Looijenga, 2006; Cheng et al, 2007; Looijenga, 2009). Here, POU5F1 is linked to embryonal carcinoma.