Elsevier

Urology

Volume 80, Issue 2, August 2012, Pages 485.e1-485.e5
Urology

Basic and Translational Science
Genomic Characterization of Testis Cancer: Association of Alterations With Outcome of Clinical Stage 1 Mixed Germ Cell Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumor of the Testis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2012.02.026Get rights and content

Objective

To identify genomic markers that are reliable in predicting lymph node metastases in clinical stage 1 non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCTs).

Methods

Comparative genomic array technology was used to identify regions of genomic amplification or deletion in clinical stage 1 NSGCTs. Twelve stage 1 mixed germ cell testicular tumors were analyzed, which were obtained from 8 patients who had no evidence of nodal metastasis when retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) had been performed (ie, were RPLND negative) and 4 patients who had nodal metastases (ie, were RPLND positive).

Results

Differences between the genomic alterations associated with the two classes of tumors were identified. Genomic alterations previously reported in other subtypes of testicular tumors were observed in both metastatic and nonmetastatic cases. Statistically suggestive differences in mean copy number of the Y chromosome were found between metastatic and nonmetastatic cases (P = .0142).

Conclusion

This finding suggests the presence of chromosome Y deletions to be a potential genetic marker for prediction of mixed germ cell tumor progression. This is a first step toward identifying chromosomal markers of progression in testicular cancer in clinical stage 1 mixed germ cell NSGCT.

Section snippets

Tissue Samples

TGCTs were obtained through the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio (UTHSCSA) urologic tumor biorepository. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples were obtained from 12 patients with clinical stage 1 TGCTs. The tumors were staged as Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) clinical stage 1 based on the absence of lymphadenopathy and no radiographic evidence of metastatic disease. Subsequent RPLND treatment was recommended based on the presence of at least one

Results

The current study was designed to identify genomic alterations that are associated with metastatic potential in clinical stage 1 mixed germ cell subtype NSGCTs. The study was limited by the fact that the disease is relatively rare and it was focused on clinical stage 1 NSGCTs from patients who underwent RPLND treatment. Although 16 samples were originally identified, only 12 had adequate-quality DNA that could be used for array CGH. This may be due in part to the age of the samples, as well as

Comment

The current study was designed to identify genomic alterations that are associated with metastatic potential in clinical stage 1 mixed germ cell subtype NSGCTs. The development of a genomic biomarker that could aid the clinician in the determination of appropriate treatment is critically important. The study was limited by the fact that the disease is relatively rare, and it was focused on stage 1 NSGCTs from patients that were treated with RPLND. One of the RPLND-negative patients had a prior

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    • Financial Disclosure: The authors declare that they have no relevant financial interests.

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