Human Reproduction Update Advance Access originally published online on March 15, 2006
Human Reproduction Update 2006 12(3):303-323; doi:10.1093/humupd/dmk006
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developmental model for the pathogenesis of testicular carcinoma in situ: genetic and environmental aspects
University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
To whom correspondence should be addressed at: University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Section GR-5064, 9 Blegdamsvej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. Email: erm{at}rh.hosp.dk
Submitted on February 3, 2005; resubmitted on December 21, 2005; accepted on January 10, 2006
Carcinoma in situ testis (CIS), also known as intratubular germ cell neoplasia (ITGCN), is a pre-invasive precursor of testicular germ cell tumours, the commonest cancer type of male adolescents and young adults. In this review, evidence supporting the hypothesis of developmental origin of testicular germ cell cancer is summarized, and the current concepts regarding aetiology and pathogenesis of this disease are critically discussed. Comparative studies of cell surface proteins (e.g. PLAP and KIT), some of the germ cell-specific markers (e.g. MAGEA4, VASA, TSPY and NY-ESO-1), supported by studies of regulatory elements of the cell cycle (e.g. p53, CHK2 and p19-INK4d) demonstrated a close similarity of CIS to primordial germ cells and gonocytes, consistent with the pre-meiotic origin of CIS. Recent gene expression profiling studies showed that CIS cells closely resemble embryonic stem cells (ESCs). The abundance of factors associated with pluripotency (NANOG and OCT-3/4) and undifferentiated state (AP-2
) may explain the remarkable pluripotency of germ cell neoplasms, which are capable of differentiating to various somatic tissue components of teratomas. Impaired gonadal development resulting in the arrest of gonocyte differentiation and retention of its embryonic features, associated with an increasing genomic instability, is the most probable model for the pathogenesis of CIS. Genomic amplification of certain chromosomal regions, e.g. 12p, may facilitate survival of CIS and further invasive progression. Genetic studies, have so far not identified gene polymorphisms predisposing to the most common non-familial testicular cancer, but this research has only recently begun. Association of CIS with other disorders, such as congenital genital malformations and some forms of impaired spermatogenesis, all rising in incidence in a synchronous manner, led to the hypothesis that CIS might be a manifestation of testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS). The aetiology of TDS including testicular cancer remains to be elucidated, but epidemiological trends suggest a primary role for environmental factors, probably combined with genetic susceptibility.
Key words: carcinoma in situ / germ cell differentiation / embryonic stem cells / testicular cancer / testicular dysgenesis syndrome
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
B. Aflatoonian, L. Ruban, M. Jones, R. Aflatoonian, A. Fazeli, and H.D. Moore In vitro post-meiotic germ cell development from human embryonic stem cells Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2009; 24(12): 3150 - 3159. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Lehraiki, C. Racine, A. Krust, R. Habert, and C. Levacher Phthalates Impair Germ Cell Number in the Mouse Fetal Testis by an Androgen- and Estrogen-Independent Mechanism Toxicol. Sci., October 1, 2009; 111(2): 372 - 382. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. B Cook, O. Akre, D. Forman, M P. Madigan, L. Richiardi, and K. A McGlynn A systematic review and meta-analysis of perinatal variables in relation to the risk of testicular cancer--experiences of the mother Int. J. Epidemiol., September 23, 2009; (2009) dyp287v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. McKinnell, R. T. Mitchell, M. Walker, K. Morris, C. J.H. Kelnar, W. H. Wallace, and R. M. Sharpe Effect of fetal or neonatal exposure to monobutyl phthalate (MBP) on testicular development and function in the marmoset Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2009; 24(9): 2244 - 2254. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Godmann, I. Gashaw, K. Eildermann, S. Schweyer, M. Bergmann, R.I. Skotheim, and R. Behr The pluripotency transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 4 is strongly expressed in intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified and seminoma Mol. Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2009; 15(8): 479 - 488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R.T. Mitchell, G. Cowan, K.D. Morris, R.A. Anderson, H.M. Fraser, K.J. Mckenzie, W.H.B. Wallace, C.J.H. Kelnar, P.T.K. Saunders, and R.M. Sharpe Germ cell differentiation in the marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) during fetal and neonatal life closely parallels that in the human Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2008; 23(12): 2755 - 2765. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Ferlin, D. Zuccarello, B. Zuccarello, M. R. Chirico, G. F. Zanon, and C. Foresta Genetic Alterations Associated With Cryptorchidism JAMA, November 19, 2008; 300(19): 2271 - 2276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. P. Amann The Cycle of the Seminiferous Epithelium in Humans: A Need to Revisit? J Androl, September 1, 2008; 29(5): 469 - 487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. L. Biggs, M. D. Davis, D. L. Eaton, N. S. Weiss, D. B. Barr, D. R. Doody, S. Fish, L. L. Needham, C. Chen, and S. M. Schwartz Serum Organochlorine Pesticide Residues and Risk of Testicular Germ Cell Carcinoma: A Population-Based Case-Control Study Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., August 1, 2008; 17(8): 2012 - 2018. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Foresta, D. Zuccarello, A. Garolla, and A. Ferlin Role of Hormones, Genes, and Environment in Human Cryptorchidism Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2008; 29(5): 560 - 580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Ferlin, M. Pengo, R. Selice, L. Salmaso, A. Garolla, and C. Foresta Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms of FSH receptor gene suggests association with testicular cancer susceptibility Endocr. Relat. Cancer, June 1, 2008; 15(2): 429 - 437. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. M. Perrett, L. Turnpenny, J. J. Eckert, M. O'Shea, S. B. Sonne, I. T. Cameron, D. I. Wilson, E. R.-D. Meyts, and N. A. Hanley The Early Human Germ Cell Lineage Does Not Express SOX2 During In Vivo Development or upon In Vitro Culture Biol Reprod, May 1, 2008; 78(5): 852 - 858. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. M. Kristensen, J. E. Nielsen, N. E. Skakkebaek, N. Graem, G. K. Jacobsen, E. R.-D. Meyts, and H. Leffers Presumed pluripotency markers UTF-1 and REX-1 are expressed in human adult testes and germ cell neoplasms Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2008; 23(4): 775 - 782. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
V. Dias, S. Meachem, E. Rajpert-De Meyts, R. McLachlan, U. Manuelpillai, and K.L. Loveland Activin receptor subunits in normal and dysfunctional adult human testis Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2008; 23(2): 412 - 420. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. M. Mueller, L. Korde, H. A. Katki, P. S. Rosenberg, J. A. Peters, and M. H. Greene Constitutional Cytogenetic Analysis in Men with Hereditary Testicular Germ Cell Tumor: No Evidence of Disease-Related Abnormalities Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., December 1, 2007; 16(12): 2791 - 2794. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Abdulhadi-Atwan, A. Jean, W. K. Chung, K. Meir, Z. Ben Neriah, G. Stratigopoulos, S. E. Oberfield, I. Fennoy, H. J. Hirsch, A. Bhangoo, et al. Role of a Founder c.201_202delCT Mutation and New Phenotypic Features of Congenital Lipoid Adrenal Hyperplasia in Palestinians J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2007; 92(10): 4000 - 4008. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
I. Gashaw, O. Dushaj, R. Behr, K. Biermann, R. Brehm, H. Rubben, R. Grobholz, K. W. Schmid, M. Bergmann, and E. Winterhager Novel germ cell markers characterize testicular seminoma and fetal testis Mol. Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2007; 13(10): 721 - 727. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Ferlin, E. Speltra, A. Garolla, R. Selice, D. Zuccarello, and C. Foresta Y chromosome haplogroups and susceptibility to testicular cancer Mol. Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2007; 13(9): 615 - 619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Pettersson, L. Richiardi, A. Nordenskjold, M. Kaijser, and O. Akre Age at Surgery for Undescended Testis and Risk of Testicular Cancer N. Engl. J. Med., May 3, 2007; 356(18): 1835 - 1841. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. F. Gjerstorff, K. Kock, O. Nielsen, and H. J. Ditzel MAGE-A1, GAGE and NY-ESO-1 cancer/testis antigen expression during human gonadal development Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2007; 22(4): 953 - 960. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Mancini, L. Carmignani, G. Gazzano, P. Sagone, F. Gadda, S. Bosari, F. Rocco, and G.M. Colpi High prevalence of testicular cancer in azoospermic men without spermatogenesis Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2007; 22(4): 1042 - 1046. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R P Amann and D N R Veeramachaneni Cryptorchidism in common eutherian mammals Reproduction, March 1, 2007; 133(3): 541 - 561. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Ferrara, N. Hallmark, H. Scott, R. Brown, C. McKinnell, I. K. Mahood, and R. M. Sharpe Acute and Long-Term Effects of in Utero Exposure of Rats to Di(n-Butyl) Phthalate on Testicular Germ Cell Development and Proliferation Endocrinology, November 1, 2006; 147(11): 5352 - 5362. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||













