scholarly journals Predicting Gonadal Germ Cell Cancer in People with Disorders of Sex Development; Insights from Developmental Biology

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 5017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leendert H. J. Looijenga ◽  
Chia-Sui Kao ◽  
Muhammad T. Idrees

The risk of gonadal germ cell cancer (GGCC) is increased in selective subgroups, amongst others, defined patients with disorders of sex development (DSD). The increased risk is due to the presence of part of the Y chromosome, i.e., GonadoBlastoma on Y chromosome GBY region, as well as anatomical localization and degree of testicularization and maturation of the gonad. The latter specifically relates to the germ cells present being at risk when blocked in an embryonic stage of development. GGCC originates from either germ cell neoplasia in situ (testicular environment) or gonadoblastoma (ovarian-like environment). These precursors are characterized by presence of the markers OCT3/4 (POU5F1), SOX17, NANOG, as well as TSPY, and cKIT and its ligand KITLG. One of the aims is to stratify individuals with an increased risk based on other parameters than histological investigation of a gonadal biopsy. These might include evaluation of defined susceptibility alleles, as identified by Genome Wide Association Studies, and detailed evaluation of the molecular mechanism underlying the DSD in the individual patient, combined with DNA, mRNA, and microRNA profiling of liquid biopsies. This review will discuss the current opportunities as well as limitations of available knowledge in the context of predicting the risk of GGCC in individual patients.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e0121300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven-Erik Olofsson ◽  
Björn Nodin ◽  
Alexander Gaber ◽  
Jakob Eberhard ◽  
Mathias Uhlén ◽  
...  

1988 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 1728-1731 ◽  
Author(s):  
S W Hansen ◽  
S Groth ◽  
G Daugaard ◽  
N Rossing ◽  
M Rørth

Long-term effects of cisplatin on renal function were investigated in 34 patients with germ cell cancer observed for a median of 65 months (range, 43 to 97 months). All patients achieved a complete remission after treatment with cisplatin (median dose 583 mg/m2), vinblastine, and bleomycin. None of the patients relapsed during follow-up. During treatment the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreased by 18% (P less than .05). During follow-up kidney function recovered in ten patients and partly improved in eight patients. Changes in plasma creatinine did not consistently correspond to alterations in GFR. The mean increase in systolic blood pressure during follow-up did not differ from the increase seen in a group of age-matched healthy men. The mean increase in diastolic pressure, however, was significant (P less than .05), but was entirely due to hypertension observed in six patients. Renography of these patients was normal. We conclude that the decrease in GFR observed during treatment with cisplatin is partly reversible. Cisplatin-treated patients have an increased risk of developing hypertension years after treatment.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remko Hersmus ◽  
Hans Stoop ◽  
Stefan J. White ◽  
Stenvert L. S. Drop ◽  
J. Wolter Oosterhuis ◽  
...  

Disorders of sex development (DSD) are defined as a congenital condition in which development of chromosomal, gonadal or anatomical sex is atypical. DSD patients with gonadal dysgenesis or hypovirilization, containing part of the Y chromosome (GBY), have an increased risk for malignant type II germ cell tumors (GCTs: seminomas and nonseminomas). DSD may be diagnosed in newborns (e.g., ambiguous genitalia), or later in life, even at or after puberty. Here we describe three independent male patients with a GCT; two were retrospectively recognized as DSD, based on the histological identification of both carcinomain situand gonadoblastoma in a single gonad as the cancer precursor. Hypospadias and cryptorchidism in their history are consistent with this conclusion. The power of recognition of these parameters is demonstrated by the third patient, in which the precursor lesion was diagnosed before progression to invasiveness. Early recognition based on these clinical parameters could have prevented development of (metastatic) cancer, to be treated by systemic therapy. All three patients showed a normal male 46,XY karyotype, without obvious genetic rearrangements by high-resolution whole-genome copy number analysis. These cases demonstrate overlap between DSD and the so-called testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS), of significant relevance for identification of individuals at increased risk for development of a malignant GCT.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16109-e16109
Author(s):  
K. Shim ◽  
K. R. Potvin ◽  
K. Mills ◽  
F. Whiston ◽  
L. Stitt ◽  
...  

e16109 Background: Cancer patients are at increased risk for thromboembolic events (TTEs), and those receiving chemotherapy are at even greater risk. Clinical experience and the literature have suggested that men receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy for metastatic germ cell tumors are at particularly high risk. As TTEs can be fatal and treatment is curative, the stakes are high. Despite this, prophylactic anticoagulation (PA) is not routinely used. Methods: All men treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy for metastatic germ cell cancer at the London Regional Cancer Program from January 1978 to December 2007 were identified from electronic databases. Data including type and timing of TTEs were extracted by retrospective chart review. Multivariable analyses were used to identify predictors of TTEs. Results: 196 eligible patients were identified with median age 31 years (range, 15–75). No patients received PA. Thirty-two TTEs were identified in 29 patients for an overall incidence of 14.8% (95% CI, 9.8–19.8%). The majority of events were deep venous thromboses, and five patients died due to TTE or its complications. Sixteen of the patients with TTE (55.2%) were diagnosed while on treatment (defined as TTE within 6 months of chemotherapy initiation); 8 (27.6%) had their TTE prior to, and 5 (17.2%) after this time period. Age greater than 30 years (OR = 3.02; 95% CI, 1.10–8.33; p = 0.033) and elevated LDH (OR = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.07–3.48; p = 0.029) were independently associated with an increased risk of TTE. If both adverse risk factors were present, the risk of TTE on treatment was 21.7% (95% CI, 9.8–33.7%). If neither were present, the negative predictive value was 97% (95% CI, 92–100%). Conclusions: The overall TTE incidence rate of 14.8% is consistent with prior reports (8.4–19%). The risk of TTE appears greatest during chemotherapy and shortly thereafter, and nearly one in 10 patients in this group had a TTE. These data support the concept of PA for selected patients starting chemotherapy for metastatic germ cell cancer. However, the efficacy of PA and risk of hemorrhage in this group is unknown. In this cohort, patients under 30 with normal LDH were at very low risk for TTE. Confirmation of these findings to help guide the study and optimal use of PA should be pursued. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (28) ◽  
pp. 3116-3123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Lauritsen ◽  
Maria G.G. Kier ◽  
Mette S. Mortensen ◽  
Mikkel Bandak ◽  
Ramneek Gupta ◽  
...  

Purpose A small number of patients with germ cell cancer (GCC) receive more than one line of treatment for disseminated disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate late toxicity and survival in an unselected cohort of patients who experienced relapse after receiving first-line treatment for disseminated disease. Methods From the Danish Testicular Cancer database, we identified all patients who received more than one line of treatment for disseminated disease. Information about late toxicity and mortality was obtained by means of linkage to national registers. Prognostic factors for relapse and death were identified and compared with the International Prognostic Factors Study Group (IPFSG) classification. Results In total, 268 patients received more than one line of treatment for disseminated GCC. Approximately half of patients (n = 136) died as a result of GCC. The 132 remaining patients, compared with patients treated with only orchiectomy, had an increased risk for a second cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 3.2; 95% CI, 1.9 to 5.5), major cardiovascular disease (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.0 to 3.3), pulmonary disease (HR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0 to 3.8), GI disease (HR, 7.3; 95% CI, 3.6 to 14.8), renal impairment (HR, 8.3; 95% CI, 3.0 to 23.2), neurologic disorders (HR, 6.3; 95% CI, 3.1 to 12.6), and death as a result of other causes (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.6 to 4.2). In large part, the IPFSG classification was confirmed in our population; however, we could not confirm the primary site and the level of human chorionic gonadotropin as independent factors. We identified increasing age as a possible new prognostic factor for treatment failure after second-line treatment (HR, 1.2 per 10 years; 95% CI, 1.2 to 15). Conclusion Patients with GCC who survive after more than one line of treatment for disseminated disease have a highly increased risk of late toxicity and death as a result of causes other than GCC. Therefore, they should be candidates for life-long follow-up. The IPFSG classification was confirmed in this unselected population.


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