Skip to main content

Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations in Testicular Tumors

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Genitourinary Pathology

Abstract

Molecular alterations in cancer are gaining increasing importance as indicators of therapeutic response and prognosis. Abnormality in multiple loci in the genetic architecture and epigenetic factors could play a role in development of testicular germ cell tumors. The only recurrent cytogenetic alteration detected in testicular germ cell tumors is the gain of the short arm of chromosome 12. However, no single high-susceptibility gene has yet been found to play a major role. Genetic alterations involving chromosomes and genes, and epigenetic alterations including methylation, chromatin remodeling, and microRNA regulation are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. McCluggage WG, Shanks JH, Arthur K, Banerjee SS. Cellular proliferation and nuclear ploidy assessments augment established prognostic factors in predicting malignancy in testicular Leydig cell tumours. Histopathology. 1998;33(4):361–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Mosharafa AA, Foster RS, Bihrle R, Koch MO, Ulbright TM, Einhorn LH, et al. Does retroperitoneal lymph node dissection have a curative role for patients with sex cord-stromal testicular tumors? Cancer. 2003;98(4):753–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Sonne SB, Almstrup K, Dalgaard M, Juncker AS, Edsgard D, Ruban L, et al. Analysis of gene expression profiles of microdissected cell populations indicates that testicular carcinoma in situ is an arrested gonocyte. Cancer Res. 2009;69(12):5241–50.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hemminki K, Li X. Familial risk in testicular cancer as a clue to a heritable and environmental aetiology. Br J Cancer. 2004;90(9):1765–70.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lutke Holzik MF, Rapley EA, Hoekstra HJ, Sleijfer DT, Nolte IM, Sijmons RH. Genetic predisposition to testicular germ-cell tumours. Lancet Oncol. 2004;5(6):363–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kratzer SS, Ulbright TM, Talerman A, Srigley JR, Roth LM, Wahle GR, et al. Large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor of the testis: contrasting features of six malignant and six benign tumors and a review of the literature. Am J Surg Pathol. 1997;21(11):1271–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. von Eyben FE. Chromosomes, genes, and development of testicular germ cell tumors. Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 2004;151(2):93–138.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Houldsworth J, Korkola JE, Bosl GJ, Chaganti RS. Biology and genetics of adult male germ cell tumors. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24(35):5512–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Mohamed GH, Gelfond JA, Nicolas MM, Brand TC, Sarvis JA, Leach RJ, et al. Genomic characterization of testis cancer: association of alterations with outcome of clinical stage 1 mixed germ cell nonseminomatous germ cell tumor of the testis. Urology. 2012;80(2):485 e1–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ottesen AM, Skakkebaek NE, Lundsteen C, Leffers H, Larsen J, Rajpert-De Meyts E. High-resolution comparative genomic hybridization detects extra chromosome arm 12p material in most cases of carcinoma in situ adjacent to overt germ cell tumors, but not before the invasive tumor development. Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2003;38(2):117–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sheikine Y, Genega E, Melamed J, Lee P, Reuter VE, Ye H. Molecular genetics of testicular germ cell tumors. Am J Cancer Res. 2012;2(2):153–67.

    PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Forbes S, Clements J, Dawson E, Bamford S, Webb T, Dogan A, et al. Cosmic 2005. Br J Cancer. 2006;94(2):318–22.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Skaletsky H, Kuroda-Kawaguchi T, Minx PJ, Cordum HS, Hillier L, Brown LG, et al. The male-specific region of the human Y chromosome is a mosaic of discrete sequence classes. Nature. 2003;423(6942):825–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nathanson KL, Kanetsky PA, Hawes R, Vaughn DJ, Letrero R, Tucker K, et al. The Y deletion gr/gr and susceptibility to testicular germ cell tumor. Am J Hum Genet. 2005;77(6):1034–43.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Greene MH, Kratz CP, Mai PL, Mueller C, Peters JA, Bratslavsky G, et al. Familial testicular germ cell tumors in adults: 2010 summary of genetic risk factors and clinical phenotype. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2010;17(2):R109–21.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Rapley EA, Turnbull C, Al Olama AA, Dermitzakis ET, Linger R, Huddart RA, et al. A genome-wide association study of testicular germ cell tumor. Nat Genet. 2009;41(7):807–10.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Turnbull C, Rapley EA, Seal S, Pernet D, Renwick A, Hughes D, et al. Variants near DMRT1, TERT and ATF7IP are associated with testicular germ cell cancer. Nat Genet. 2010;42(7):604–7.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Turnbull C, Rahman N. Genome-wide association studies provide new insights into the genetic basis of testicular germ-cell tumour. Int J Androl. 2011;34(4 Pt 2):e86–96; discussion e-7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kanetsky PA, Mitra N, Vardhanabhuti S, Li M, Vaughn DJ, Letrero R, et al. Common variation in KITLG and at 5q31.3 predisposes to testicular germ cell cancer. Nat Genet. 2009;41(7):811–5.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Boldajipour B, Raz E. What is left behind—quality control in germ cell migration. Sci STKE. 2007;2007(383):pe16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Yan W, Samson M, Jegou B, Toppari J. Bcl-w forms complexes with Bax and Bak, and elevated ratios of Bax/Bcl-w and Bak/Bcl-w correspond to spermatogonial and spermatocyte apoptosis in the testis. Mol Endocrinol. 2000;14(5):682–99.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. International HapMap C, Frazer KA, Ballinger DG, Cox DR, Hinds DA, Stuve LL, et al. A second generation human haplotype map of over 3.1 million SNPs. Nature. 2007;449(7164):851–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Del-Mazo J, Brieno-Enriquez MA, Garcia-Lopez J, Lopez-Fernandez LA, De-Felici M. Endocrine disruptors, gene deregulation and male germ cell tumors. Int J Dev Biol. 2013;57(2–4):225–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Okamoto K. Epigenetics: a way to understand the origin and biology of testicular germ cell tumors. Int J Urol. 2012;19(6):504–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wood L, Kollmannsberger C, Jewett M, Chung P, Hotte S, O’Malley M, et al. Canadian consensus guidelines for the management of testicular germ cell cancer. Can Urol Assoc J. 2010;4(2):e19–38.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ushida H, Kawakami T, Minami K, Chano T, Okabe H, Okada Y, et al. Methylation profile of DNA repetitive elements in human testicular germ cell tumor. Mol Carcinog. 2012;51(9):711–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Okamoto K, Kawakami T. Epigenetic profile of testicular germ cell tumours. Int J Androl. 2007;30(4):385–92; discussion 92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Rosen A, Jayram G, Drazer M, Eggener SE. Global trends in testicular cancer incidence and mortality. Eur Urol. 2011;60(2):374–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Honorio S, Agathanggelou A, Wernert N, Rothe M, Maher ER, Latif F. Frequent epigenetic inactivation of the RASSF1A tumour suppressor gene in testicular tumours and distinct methylation profiles of seminoma and nonseminoma testicular germ cell tumours. Oncogene. 2003;22(3):461–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Kempkensteffen C, Christoph F, Weikert S, Krause H, Kollermann J, Schostak M, et al. Epigenetic silencing of the putative tumor suppressor gene testisin in testicular germ cell tumors. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2006;132(12):765–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kawakami T, Okamoto K, Sugihara H, Hattori T, Reeve AE, Ogawa O, et al. The roles of supernumerical X chromosomes and XIST expression in testicular germ cell tumors. J Urol. 2003;169(4):1546–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kerjean A, Dupont JM, Vasseur C, Le Tessier D, Cuisset L, Paldi A, et al. Establishment of the paternal methylation imprint of the human H19 and MEST/PEG1 genes during spermatogenesis. Hum Mol Genet. 2000;9(14):2183–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Ancelin K, Lange UC, Hajkova P, Schneider R, Bannister AJ, Kouzarides T, et al. Blimp1 associates with Prmt5 and directs histone arginine methylation in mouse germ cells. Nat Cell Biol. 2006;8(6): 623–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Eckert D, Biermann K, Nettersheim D, Gillis AJ, Steger K, Jack HM, et al. Expression of BLIMP1/PRMT5 and concurrent histone H2A/H4 arginine 3 dimethylation in fetal germ cells, CIS/IGCNU and germ cell tumors. BMC Dev Biol. 2008;8:106.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Hayashi K, Chuva de Sousa Lopes SM, Kaneda M, Tang F, Hajkova P, Lao K, et al. MicroRNA biogenesis is required for mouse primordial germ cell development and spermatogenesis. PLoS One. 2008;3(3):e1738.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Voorhoeve PM, le Sage C, Schrier M, Gillis AJ, Stoop H, Nagel R, et al. A genetic screen implicates miRNA-372 and miRNA-373 as oncogenes in testicular germ cell tumors. Cell. 2006;124(6): 1169–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Novotny GW, Nielsen JE, Sonne SB, Skakkebaek NE, Rajpert-De Meyts E, Leffers H. Analysis of gene expression in normal and neoplastic human testis: new roles of RNA. Int J Androl. 2007;30(4):316–26; discussion 26–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Palmer RD, Murray MJ, Saini HK, van Dongen S, Abreu-Goodger C, Muralidhar B, et al. Malignant germ cell tumors display common microRNA profiles resulting in global changes in expression of messenger RNA targets. Cancer Res. 2010;70(7):2911–23.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Gillis AJ, Stoop HJ, Hersmus R, Oosterhuis JW, Sun Y, Chen C, et al. High-throughput microRNAome analysis in human germ cell tumours. J Pathol. 2007;213(3):319–28.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Juliano C, Wang J, Lin H. Uniting germline and stem cells: the function of Piwi proteins and the piRNA pathway in diverse organisms. Annu Rev Genet. 2011;45:447–69.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Ferreira HJ, Heyn H, Garcia Del Muro X, Vidal A, Larriba S, Munoz C, et al. Epigenetic loss of the PIWI/piRNA machinery in human testicular tumorigenesis. Epigenetics. 2013;9(1):113–8.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cristina Magi-Galluzzi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Patil, P., Magi-Galluzzi, C. (2015). Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations in Testicular Tumors. In: Magi-Galluzzi, C., Przybycin, C. (eds) Genitourinary Pathology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2044-0_42

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2044-0_42

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2043-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2044-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics