Origin of pluripotent germ cell tumours : The role of microenvironment during embryonic development

摘要: Carcinoma in situ (CIS) testis, known also as intratubular germ cell neoplasia, is the cancer stem from which great majority of testicular derived tumours (TGCTs) testis arise. TGCTs can proliferate into morphologically homogeneous seminomas or differentiate virtually any type tissue and form teratomas (non-seminomas). CIS cells display a close phenotypic similarity to fetal (primordial gonocytes) suggesting an origin due developmental delay arrest differentiation early cells. The pluripotency these neoplasms has recently been explained by resemblance their expression profile that embryonic inner mass studied culture cells, with high transcription factors associated pluripotency, such NANOG OCT3/4, well proteins found several specific TFAP2C (AP-2γ) KIT. highly express number pre-meiotic genes, are down-regulated during development non-seminomas, while other markers, SOX2, up-regulated. mechanistic pathways causative remain be elucidated both initial transformation progression invasive tumour young adult. However, evidence supported epidemiological studies indicate disturbances hormonal microenvironment differentiating gonads may results neoplasia host problems later life, genital malformations, decreased spermatogenesis, signs hypogonadism.