Epigenetic traits of testicular cancer: from primordial germ cells to germ cell tumors

ABSTRACT Germ cell tumors are derived from primordial germ cells of the ovary. Approximately 25 to 30% of all ovarian tumors are of germ cell origin and of these, 95% are benign and only 3 to 4% are malignant. They are seen mostly in women in their second and third decades of life and very rarely in postmenopausal women. There are many reported cases of ovarian tumor in postmenopausal women but a huge dermoid cyst in postmenopausal women causing prolapse uterus is very rare. Here, we are presenting a rare case of large dermoid cyst in a 58-year-old postmenopausal multiparous woman with third degree uterine prolapse. How to cite this article Kakani A, Bannerjee I, Shrivastava D. A Huge Dermoid Cyst in Postmenopausal Women with Third Degree Uterine Prolapse. J South Asian Feder Menopause Soc 2013;1(1):43-44.

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The distribution and behavior of extragonadal primordial germ cells in Bax mutant mice suggest a novel origin for sacrococcygeal germ cell tumors

The International Journal of Developmental Biology ◽

10.1387/ijdb.072486cr ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 333-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Christopher Runyan ◽

Ying Gu ◽

Amanda Shoemaker ◽

Leendert Looijenga ◽

Christopher Wylie

Keyword(s):

Germ Cell ◽

Germ Cells ◽

Primordial Germ Cells ◽

Germ Cell Tumors ◽

Mutant Mice ◽

And Behavior

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Germ cell determination and the developmental origin of germ cell tumors

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.198150 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 148 (8) ◽

Author(s):

Peter K. Nicholls ◽

David C. Page

Keyword(s):

Germ Cell ◽

Germ Cells ◽

Primordial Germ Cells ◽

Germ Cell Tumors ◽

Cell Types ◽

The Body ◽

Developmental Potential ◽

Animal Development ◽

Cell Determination ◽

Diverse Species

ABSTRACT In each generation, the germline is tasked with producing somatic lineages that form the body, and segregating a population of cells for gametogenesis. During animal development, when do cells of the germline irreversibly commit to producing gametes? Integrating findings from diverse species, we conclude that the final commitment of the germline to gametogenesis – the process of germ cell determination – occurs after primordial germ cells (PGCs) colonize the gonads. Combining this understanding with medical findings, we present a model whereby germ cell tumors arise from cells that failed to undertake germ cell determination, regardless of their having colonized the gonads. We propose that the diversity of cell types present in these tumors reflects the broad developmental potential of migratory PGCs.

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To Be or Not to Be a Germ Cell: The Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor Paradigm

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22115982 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (11) ◽

pp. 5982

Author(s):

Massimo De Felici ◽

Francesca Gioia Klinger ◽

Federica Campolo ◽

Carmela Rita Balistreri ◽

Marco Barchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Germ Cell ◽

Germ Cells ◽

Primordial Germ Cells ◽

Germ Cell Tumors ◽

Cell Types ◽

Cell Tumor ◽

Cell Specification ◽

Germ Cell Specification ◽

Wide Range ◽

Unique Cell

In the human embryo, the genetic program that orchestrates germ cell specification involves the activation of epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms that make the germline a unique cell population continuously poised between germness and pluripotency. Germ cell tumors, neoplasias originating from fetal or neonatal germ cells, maintain such dichotomy and can adopt either pluripotent features (embryonal carcinomas) or germness features (seminomas) with a wide range of phenotypes in between these histotypes. Here, we review the basic concepts of cell specification, migration and gonadal colonization of human primordial germ cells (hPGCs) highlighting the analogies of transcriptional/epigenetic programs between these two cell types.

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Sonographic Diagnosis of Unilateral Synchronous Testicular Tumors

American Journal of Sonography ◽

10.25259/ajs-3-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 2

Author(s):

Allison Forrest ◽

Numbereye Numbere ◽

Jerome Jean-Gilles ◽

Thomas Frye ◽

Vikram Dogra

Keyword(s):

Testicular Cancer ◽

Germ Cell ◽

Germ Cell Tumors ◽

Histological Type ◽

Synchronous Tumors ◽

Testicular Tumors ◽

Sonographic Diagnosis ◽

Histological Types ◽

Common Cancer

Testicular cancer accounts for 1% of all male cancers yet is the most common cancer affecting men aged 15–44 years. Most testicular cancers are seminomas or non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. Rarely, multiple testicular cancers may occur simultaneously, most often of the same histological type. However, synchronous tumors of different histological types may occur, although rarely. In this case study, we present the sonographic features with histopathologic correlation in a case of unilateral synchronous testicular tumors of discordant histology.

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Recent Advances in New Discovered Molecular Targets in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867324666171003115807 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 575-583 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paolo Chieffi

Keyword(s):

Germ Cell ◽

Primordial Germ Cells ◽

Germ Cell Tumors ◽

Molecular Targets ◽

Testicular Germ Cell Tumor ◽

Research Literature ◽

Testicular Germ Cell ◽

Solid Malignancy ◽

Bibliographic Data ◽

New Biomarkers

Background: Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) is the most common solid malignancy occurring in young men between 20 and 34 years of age, and its incidence has increased significantly over the last decades. TGCTs can be subdivided into seminoma and nonseminoma germ cell tumors (NSGCTs), which includes yolk sac tumor, choriocarcinoma, embryonal cell carcinoma, and teratoma. Seminomas and NSGCTs present significant differences in therapy, prognosis, and both show characteristics of the Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs). Methods: I undertook a search of bibliographic data from peer-reviewed research literature. Results: Seventy papers were included in the mini-review showing that a large number of new biomarkers have given further advantages to discriminate the different histotypes and could represent useful novel molecular targets for anticancer strategies. Conclusion: A deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of TGCTs is likely to significantly improve not only our knowledge on stem cells and oncogenesis but also the disease management with more selective tumor treatment.

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Ligand–Receptor Interactions Elucidate Sex-Specific Pathways in the Trajectory From Primordial Germ Cells to Gonia During Human Development

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology ◽

10.3389/fcell.2021.661243 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Arend W. Overeem ◽

Yolanda W. Chang ◽

Jeroen Spruit ◽

Celine M. Roelse ◽

Susana M. Chuva De Sousa Lopes

Keyword(s):

Germ Cell ◽

Signaling Pathways ◽

Germ Cells ◽

Tyrosine Kinases ◽

Intracellular Localization ◽

Primordial Germ Cells ◽

Cell Lineage ◽

Systematic Analysis ◽

Receptor Interactions

The human germ cell lineage originates from primordial germ cells (PGCs), which are specified at approximately the third week of development. Our understanding of the signaling pathways that control this event has significantly increased in recent years and that has enabled the generation of PGC-like cells (PGCLCs) from pluripotent stem cells in vitro. However, the signaling pathways that drive the transition of PGCs into gonia (prospermatogonia in males or premeiotic oogonia in females) remain unclear, and we are presently unable to mimic this step in vitro in the absence of gonadal tissue. Therefore, we have analyzed single-cell transcriptomics data of human fetal gonads to map the molecular interactions during the sex-specific transition from PGCs to gonia. The CellPhoneDB algorithm was used to identify significant ligand–receptor interactions between germ cells and their sex-specific neighboring gonadal somatic cells, focusing on four major signaling pathways WNT, NOTCH, TGFβ/BMP, and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). Subsequently, the expression and intracellular localization of key effectors for these pathways were validated in human fetal gonads by immunostaining. This approach provided a systematic analysis of the signaling environment in developing human gonads and revealed sex-specific signaling pathways during human premeiotic germ cell development. This work serves as a foundation to understand the transition from PGCs to premeiotic oogonia or prospermatogonia and identifies sex-specific signaling pathways that are of interest in the step-by-step reconstitution of human gametogenesis in vitro.

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Phase Transitioned Nuclear Oskar Promotes Cell Division of Drosophila Primordial Germ Cells

10.1101/397992 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kathryn E. Kistler ◽

Tatjana Trcek ◽

Thomas R. Hurd ◽

Ruoyu Chen ◽

Feng-Xia Liang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Germ Cell ◽

Cell Fate ◽

Germ Cells ◽

Cell Function ◽

Primordial Germ Cells ◽

Nuclear Localization Sequence ◽

Cell Systems ◽

Germ Granules ◽

Localization Sequence ◽

Transcriptional Gene Regulation

ABSTRACTGerm granules are non-membranous ribonucleoprotein granules deemed the hubs for post-transcriptional gene regulation and functionally linked to germ cell fate across species. Little is known about the physical properties of germ granules and how these relate to germ cell function. Here we study two types of germ granules in the Drosophila embryo: cytoplasmic germ granules that instruct primordial germ cells (PGCs) formation and nuclear germ granules within early PGCs with unknown function. We show that cytoplasmic and nuclear germ granules are phase transitioned condensates nucleated by Oskar protein that display liquid as well as hydrogel-like properties. Focusing on nuclear granules, we find that Oskar drives their formation in heterologous cell systems. Multiple, independent Oskar protein domains synergize to promote granule phase separation. Deletion of Oskar’s nuclear localization sequence specifically ablates nuclear granules in cell systems. In the embryo, nuclear germ granules promote germ cell divisions thereby increasing PGC number for the next generation.

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Disruption of Tcfap2c in Primordial Germ Cells using Prdm1-Cre Prevents Germ Cell Development

Biology of Reproduction ◽

10.1093/biolreprod/78.s1.64a ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 78 (Suppl_1) ◽

pp. 64-64

Author(s):

Jillian Guttormsen ◽

Gerrit J. Bouma ◽

Frances Bhushan ◽

Trevor Williams ◽

Quinton A. Winger

Keyword(s):

Germ Cell ◽

Germ Cells ◽

Primordial Germ Cells ◽

Cell Development ◽

Germ Cell Development

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Affinity chromatography used in distinguishing alpha-fetoprotein in serum from patients with tumors of hepatic parenchyma and of germ cells.

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/30.7.1257 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 30 (7) ◽

pp. 1257-1258 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

P K Buamah ◽

C Cornell ◽

A W Skillen

Keyword(s):

Germ Cell ◽

Affinity Chromatography ◽

Germ Cells ◽

Concanavalin A ◽

Primary Liver Cancer ◽

Germ Cell Tumors ◽

Alpha Fetoprotein ◽

Hepatic Parenchyma ◽

Liver Cancers ◽

Serum Alpha Fetoprotein

Abstract We used affinity chromatography on concanavalin A Sepharose to study the serum alpha-fetoprotein of 10 patients with histologically proven germ-cell tumors and 12 patients with primary liver cancer. Less than 50% of the fetoprotein from germ-cell tumors bound to concanavalin A, as compared with more than 80% of the alpha-fetoprotein from primary liver cancers.

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