CRIPTO and miR-371a-3p Are Serum Biomarkers of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors and Are Detected in Seminal Plasma from Azoospermic Males

Cassy M Spiller, João Lobo, Willem P A Boellaard, Ad J M Gillis, Josephine Bowles, Leendert H J Looijenga

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7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

miR-371a-3p is currently the most informative reported biomarker for germ cell tumors (GCTs). Another developmental-related biomarker, CRIPTO, is involved in the regulation of pluripotency and germ cell fate commitment. We aimed to assess the value of CRIPTO as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of testicular GCTs (TGCTs) and also to assess its presence in seminal plasma samples, compared with miR-371a-3p. In total, 217 and 94 serum/seminal plasma samples were analyzed. CRIPTO was quantified using ELISA and miR-371a-3p using bead-based isolation followed by RT-qPCR. Methylation profiling (EPIC array) for the CRIPTO promoter region was undertaken in 35 TGCT tissues plus four (T)GCT cell lines. Significantly higher CRIPTO concentration was found in sera of non-seminomas compared to controls (p = 0.0297), and in stage II/III disease compared to stage I (p = 0.0052, p = 0.0097). CRIPTO concentration was significantly positively correlated with miR-371a-3p levels in serum (r = 0.16) and seminal plasma (r = 0.40). CRIPTO/miR-371a-3p levels were significantly higher in seminal plasma controls when compared to serum controls (p = 0.0001, p < 0.0001). CRIPTO/miR-371a-3p were detected both in normospermic and azoospermic males, and levels were higher in TGCTs compared to GCNIS-only. We have provided the largest dataset of evaluation of CRIPTO in serum and seminal plasma of GCTs, showing its potential value as a biomarker of the disease.

Original languageEnglish
Article number760
JournalCancers
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Mar 2020

Keywords

  • CRIPTO
  • Fertility
  • Germ cell tumors
  • Germ cells
  • MiR-371a-3p
  • Semen
  • Serum
  • Testicular cancer

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