scholarly journals Germ Cell Tumors in the Intersex Gonad: Old Paths, New Directions, Moving Frontiers

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 468-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine Cools ◽  
Stenvert L. S. Drop ◽  
Katja P. Wolffenbuttel ◽  
J. Wolter Oosterhuis ◽  
Leendert H. J. Looijenga

The risk for the development of germ cell tumors is an important factor to deal with in the management of patients with disorders of sex development (DSD). However, this risk is often hard to predict. Recently, major progress has been made in identifying gene-products related to germ cell tumor development (testis-specific protein-Y encoded and octamer binding transcription factor 3/4) and in recognizing early changes of germ cells (maturation delay, preneoplastic lesions, and in situ neoplasia). The newly recognized “undifferentiated gonadal tissue” has been identified as a gonadal differentiation pattern bearing a high risk for the development of gonadoblastoma. It is expected that the combination of these findings will allow for estimation of the risk for tumor development in the individual patient (high risk/intermediate risk/low risk). This article reviews the recent literature regarding the prevalence of germ cell tumors in patients with DSD. Some major limitations regarding this topic, including a confusing terminology referring to the different forms of intersex disorders and unclear criteria for the diagnosis of malignant germ cells at an early age (maturation delay vs. early steps in malignant transformation) are discussed. Thereafter, an overview of the recent advances that have been made in our knowledge of germ cell tumor development and the correct diagnosis of early neoplastic lesions in this patient population is provided. A new classification system for patients with DSD is proposed as a tool to refine our insight in the prevalence of germ cell tumors in specific diagnostic groups.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15621-e15621
Author(s):  
Anna Lina-Karin Gordy ◽  
Mary J. Brames ◽  
Lawrence H. Einhorn ◽  
Naveen Manchanda

e15621 Background: Thromboembolism (TE) accounts for significant morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Rates of TE have been reported from 0.9%-28.0%, depending on the population. Patients with germ cell tumors have a 4.0-8.4% risk of TE following platin chemotherapy. Our patients are high-risk, many with advanced disease receiving high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral blood stem cell rescue. We sought to more completely understand TE events in advanced germ cell tumor patients. Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients visiting our germ cell tumor clinic between 11/05/2012 and 1/22/2013 were selected. Data were collected by retrospective chart review from tumor diagnosis until TE (ranging from TE on diagnosis to 20 years later). A logistic regression model was fitted to determine variables that predispose patients to TE. Results: In our patient series, seven (15.9%) had venous TE and none had arterial events. Five patients (11.4%) had TE within 16 weeks of chemotherapy, and 2 at 10 and 19 years after diagnosis, respectively. Two had bilateral pulmonary emboli (PE) (4.5%), 3 had upper or lower extremity DVTs, or both, and 1 had bilateral PE and DVTs. Five patients with TE had nonseminomatous tumors, 2 had non-testis primaries, 4 had relapsed disease, 2 with late relapse (>7 years), 6 had metastatic disease, 3 had retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, and all 7 received platin chemotherapy. In logistic regression analysis, significant risk factors for TE included relapse (P= .016), bulky retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy (P= .006), alpha-fetoprotein >10,000 (P= .047) beta-HCG > 1,000 (P= .020), chemotherapy (P= .031), platin-refractory disease (P= .055), and poor risk disease compared to good risk disease (P=.020). Conclusions: Germ cell tumor patients have a high risk of venous TE. Those with relapsed disease, bulky retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, platin chemotherapy, platin-refractory, or poor risk disease are at increased risk. Our estimates are higher than previously reported and in contrast to earlier studies, do not include arterial TE. To confirm our findings, we will extend this study to 100 patients. If confirmed, this pattern of TE events may be a consequence of advanced stage disease in our patients.


1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 576-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruhiko Kishima ◽  
Keiji Shimizu ◽  
Yasuyoshi Miyao ◽  
Eiichiro Mabuchi ◽  
Toru Hayakawa

✓ A primary intracranial germ cell tumor in a 16-year-old boy secreted both a-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The tumor, located in the right thalamus, contained germinomatous, trophoblastic, and endodermal sinus components. To identify AFP- and HCG-secreting cells, germ cells from the surgical specimen were cultured in vitro. These cultured cells secreted AFP and HCG for 10 weeks, and immunohistochemical studies showed that some of the cells secreted both AFP and HCG. These findings suggest that multipotential germ cells migrate to the encephalic region and may become germ cell tumors containing various types of tissue.


2021 ◽  
pp. 144-151
Author(s):  
G. V. Tishchenko ◽  
A. I. Shalyga ◽  
I. A. Tsishchanka

Extragonadal germ cell tumors (GCTs) are neoplasms that develop from germ cells and have a similar histopathological structure with the gonadal forms of GCTs, but are located outside the gonads. GCTs are the most common malignant neoplasms in men aged 15–35. From 1 to 5 % of malignant GCTs are of the extragonadal origin.The work describes a clinical case of extragonadal mediastinal germ cell tumor, which was diagnosed at the stage of the histological examination of the surgical material.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 1297-1303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Fernando Lopes ◽  
Carla Renata Pacheco Macedo ◽  
Elitânia Marinho Pontes ◽  
Simone dos Santos Aguiar ◽  
Maria José Mastellaro ◽  
...  

Purpose In 1988, we formed a consortium of Brazilian institutions to develop uniform standards for the diagnostic assessment and multidisciplinary treatment of children and adolescents with germ cell tumors. We also implemented the first childhood Brazilian germ cell tumor protocol, GCT-91, evaluating two-agent chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide (PE). We now report on the clinical characteristics and survival of children and adolescents with germ cell tumors treated on this protocol. Patients and Methods From May 1991 to April 2000, 115 patients (106 assessable patients) were enrolled onto the Brazilian protocol with a diagnosis of germ cell tumor. Results Patients were treated with surgery only (n = 35) and chemotherapy (n = 71). Important prognostic factors included stage (P = .025), surgical procedure at diagnosis according to resectability (P < .032), and abnormal lactate dehydrogenase value at diagnosis (P < .001). Conclusion The improvement in survival by the introduction of a standard protocol is an important achievement. This is of particular importance for smaller institutions with previous limited experience in the treatment of childhood germ cell tumors. In addition, the results of a two-agent regimen with PE were favorable (5-year overall survival rate is 83.3% for patients in the high-risk group [n = 36] who received PE v 58.8% for patients in the high-risk patients group who received PE plus ifosfamide, vinblastine, and bleomycin [n = 17; P = .017]). Thus for selected patients, complex three-agent regimens may not be necessary to achieve long-term survival, even for some patients with advanced disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii329-iii329
Author(s):  
Hiroki Yamada ◽  
Tomohiro Abiko ◽  
Hirokazu Fujiwara ◽  
Kazunari Yoshida ◽  
Hikaru Sasaki

Abstract INTRODUCTION Germ cell tumors in the central nervous system (CNS) typically arise either at suprasellar and/or pineal region, and occasionally at basal ganglia. We report a case of diagnostically challenging, recurrent germ cell tumor presented with diffuse intraaxial abnormality in and across the lower brainstem, which was diagnosed by the elevated placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CASE DESCRIPTION: A 28-year-old man had been treated by chemoradiotherapy at the previous hospital for bifocal suprasellar and pineal lesions with the provisional diagnosis of germinoma without histological confirmation. Three years later, he presented with progressive weakness of bilateral extremities for weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a diffuse, bilaterally symmetric high intensity lesion on T2-weighted image with slight contrast enhancement across the ventral side of the medulla oblongata to the upper cervical spinal cord. Serum and CSF hCG, hCG-β, and AFP were all negative. Since the image findings were atypical for recurrent germ cell tumor, some kind of myelitis was initially suspected. Therefore, steroid pulse therapy was administered. However, the patient’s symptom was still gradually progressing. Then, the CSF PLAP turned out to be positive, indicating the recurrence of germinoma. Accordingly, platinum-based chemotherapy was administered, and the imaging findings, patient’s symptoms, and CSF PLAP began to improve. The patient is to be treated with radiotherapy following chemotherapy. CONCLUSION We report a rare case of CNS germ cell tumor that presented with diffuse intraaxial lesion in the lower brainstem in which examination of CSF PLAP was extremely useful.


Author(s):  
Faraz S. Vali ◽  
Amit Kyal ◽  
Parul I. Chaudhary ◽  
Sujatha Das ◽  
Aprateem Mukherjee ◽  
...  

Germ cell tumors represent only 20% to 25% of all benign and malignant ovarian neoplasms. Mixed germ cell tumors are a rare variety of non–dysgerminomatous germ cell tumors. They contain two or more elements; the most frequent combination being a dysgerminoma and an EST (Endodermal Sinus Tumor). We present a case of malignant mixed germ cell tumor comprising of yolk sac tumor, embryonal carcinoma and choriocarcinoma. A 13-year-old girl presented with a huge 25 x 18 cm mass in abdomen with raised values of CA-125, hCG, AFP (alpha-feto protein) and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase). She underwent laparotomy followed by unilateral salpingoopherectomy and infracolic omentectomy. Histopathology report revealed malignant mixed germ cell tumor comprising predominantly of EST with elements of embryonal carcinoma and non-gestational choriocarcinoma. Following surgery, she was started on adjuvant chemotherapy (Bleomycin, Etoposide and Cisplatin regimen). Mixed germ cell tumor (YST/EST, non-gestational choriocarcinoma and embryonal carcinoma) is a very rare tumor. Careful initial surgery with adequate staging biopsies followed by combination chemotherapy can greatly improve the prognosis of these patients


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-122
Author(s):  
SM Rashed Zahangir Kabir ◽  
Md Waheed Akhtar ◽  
Farida Yasmin

Introduction: Germ cell tumors are a group of tumors with different clinical presentation and histological and biological characteristics. Malignant germ cell tumors occur at all ages with a trend of bimodal distribution in infancy and adolescence. Objective: To evaluate the demographic characteristics, distribution of different types of germ cell tumor, treatment modalities and outcome of germ cell tumor in children in a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh. Methods: In this retrospective study, data regarding age and sex distribution, location, types of tumors, management of germ cell tumor in children were retrieved from the medical records of pediatric oncology department in NICRH, Dhaka from 2008 to 2014. Results: Out of total 87 patients female were 50 and male 37. Most of the patients were up to 5 years of age. The gonadal germ cell tumors (80%) were more than extragonadal tumor (20%) in both male and female patients. The most common germ cell tumor was dysgerminoma (32%) followed by yolk sac tumor (29.8%) and teratoma (19.5%). Yolk Sac Tumor (51.4%) was the most common in male and dysgerminoma (56%) the commonest in female. Out of 87, seventy two (82.7%) received chemotherapy following surgery. Among those 72 patients who received chemotherapy 49 (68 %) patients completed their treatment. Until the last follow up 71.4% patients remained alive and tumor free. Conclusion: Germ cell tumors are the most variable tumor of all childhood malignancies that has difference in age, sex, location and histological subtypes. Gonadal tumors have better prognosis than extragonadal tumors in both the sex. DS (Child) H J 2019; 35(2) : 119-122


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii23-ii23
Author(s):  
Kaishi Satomi ◽  
Hirokazu Takami ◽  
Shintaro Fukushima ◽  
Yoichi Nakazato ◽  
Shota Tanaka ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Gain of short arm of chromosome 12 (12p) is commonly observed in testicular germ cell tumors (tGCTs). 12p gain is also frequently seen in intracranial GCTs (iGCTs). However, little is known about the clinical significance of 12p gain in iGCTs. MATERIALS AND METHODS We have collected over 200 fresh frozen tissue samples of iGCTs through the Intracranial Germ Cell Tumor Genome Analysis Consortium in Japan. Firstly, we analyzed DNA methylation status in 83 iGCTs, 3 seminomas and 6 normal control samples using Infinium Human Methylation 450K BeadChip array (Illumina, CA). Idat files were processed using R (Version 3.5.3) and minfi package (1.30.0) to generate copy number variations. Compared with average genome-wide copy number level, 12p gain was determined. Then, 58 iGCTs with clinicopathological information were analyzed for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Those tumors that consist of only either germinoma and/or mature teratoma components were classified as Favorable Histology (FH) and all the others that contains malignant histological components were classified as Unfavorable Histology (UFH). RESULT 12p gain was observed in 100% (3/3) of seminoma, 13.6% (3/22) of germinoma, 16.7% (1/6) of mature teratoma, 25% (1/4) of immature teratoma, 55% (11/20) of mixed germ cell tumor, 100% (4/4) of yolk sac tumor, 100% (1/1) of embryonal carcinoma, and 100% (1/1) of choriocarcinoma. In total, 44.6% (37/83) of iGCT showed 12p gain. Regarding histological classification, the 12p gain rate in UFH (72%, 18/25) was significantly higher than that in FH (12.1%, 4/33, P&lt;0.01). Both PFS and OS were significantly worse in iGCTs with 12p gain (PFS: P=0.027, OS: P=0.0012). DISCUSSION 12p gain can be a molecular marker to predict prognosis and histological malignancy in iGCTs.


Author(s):  
Kimberley Bonouvrie ◽  
Jutte van der Werff ten Bosch ◽  
Machiel van den Akker

Abstract Objective The most common presentation of Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is infertility and features of hypogonadism. Currently no consensus exists on the risk of malignancy in this syndrome. Several case reports show an incidence of extragonadal germ cells tumors (eGCT) of 1.5 per 1000 KS patients (OR 50 against healthy population). Malignant germ cell tumors are rare in children. They account for 3% of all children cancers. Young patients with a germ cell tumor are not routinely tested for Klinefelter syndrome. This can therefore result in underdiagnosing. Literature data suggest a correlation between eGCT and KS. To the best of our knowledge there is no precise description of the primary locations of germ cell tumors in KS patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate age groups and primary locations of extragonadal germ cell tumors in Klinefelter patients. With this data we investigate whether it is necessary to perform a cytogenetic analysis for KS in every eGCT patient. Study design This study is based on case report publications in PubMed/Medline published until march 2020 that described “Klinefelter Syndrome (MeSH) AND/OR extragonadal germ cell tumors”. Publications were included when patients age, location and histology of the germ cell tumor was known. Two double blinded reviewers selected the studies.Results: 141 KS patients with eGCTs were identified. Mean age at presentation was 17.3 years (StDev + − 10.2). In contrast to the extragonadal germ cell tumors in adults, most eGCT in children were mediastinal or in the central nervous system (respectively 90/141; 64% and 23/141; 16% of all tumors). Distribution of histologic subtypes showed that the largest fraction represented a teratoma, mixed-type-non-seminomateus GCT and germinoma, respectively 34/141; 24%, 26/141; 18% and 20/141; 14% of all tumors. Conclusion These data suggest a correlation between primary extragonadal germ cell tumors and Klinefelter syndrome. There appears to be an indication for screening on KS in young patients with an eGCT in the mediastinum. A low threshold for radiologic examinations should be considered to discover eGCT. We emphasize the need for genetic analysis in all cases of a male with a mediastinal germ cell tumor for the underdiagnosed Klinefelter syndrome.


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