Genes, chromosomes and the development of testicular germ cell tumors of adolescents and adults

Alan McIntyre, Duncan Gilbert, Neil Goddard, Leendart Looijenga, Janet Shipley

Onderzoeksoutput: Bijdrage aan tijdschriftArtikel recenserenpeer review

50 Citaten (Scopus)

Samenvatting

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) of adults and adolescents are thought to be derived from primordial germ cells or gonocytes. TGCTs develop postpuberty from precursor lesions known as intratubular germ cell neoplasia undifferentiated. The tumors can be divided into two groups based on their histology and clinical behavior; seminomas resemble primordial germ cells or gonocytes and nonseminomas resemble embryonic or extraembryonic tissues at various stages of differentiation. The most undifferentiated form of nonseminoma, embryonal carcinoma, resembles embryonic stem cells in terms of morphology and expression profiling, both mRNAs and microRNAs. Evidence supports both environmental factors and genetic predisposition underlying the development of TGCTs. Various models of development have been proposed and are discussed. In TGCTs, gain of material from the short arm of chromosome 12 is invariable: genes from this region include the proto-oncogene KRAS, which has activating mutations in approximately 10% of tumors or is frequently overexpressed. A number of different approaches to increase the understanding of the development and progression of TGCTs have highlighted the involvement of KIT, RAS/RAF/MAPK, STAT, and PI3K/AKT signaling. We review the role of these signaling pathways in this process and the potential influence of environmental factors in the development of TGCTs.

Originele taal-2Engels
Pagina's (van-tot)547-57
Aantal pagina's11
TijdschriftGenes Chromosomes and Cancer
Volume47
Nummer van het tijdschrift7
DOI's
StatusGepubliceerd - jul. 2008
Extern gepubliceerdJa

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