Perinatal origin of testicular germ cell cancer: Possible involvement of developmental reprogramming

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Testicular dysgenesis syndrome is manifested as poor semen quality, undescended testes, hypospadias, or testicular germ cell cancer. The current hypothesis on the pathogenic events leading to testicular dysgenesis involves improper development of somatic nurse cells and consequently delayed germ cell development. Most evidence comes from testicular germ cell cancer, which is the most common cancer in young men. It develops through a preinvasive carcinoma in situ (CIS) stage. Much data indicate that the CIS cell is a neoplastic and pluripotent counterpart of a primordial germ cell (PGC) or gonocyte that has failed to differentiate. During their development both PGC and gonocytes undergo extensive epigenetic modifi cations, including erasure and reestablishment of genome wide DNA methylation and exchange of histone modifi cations. This chapter reviews the current knowledge on the perinatal reprogramming of fetal germ cells and its possible involvement in testicular cancer pathogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPerinatal Programming : The State of the Art
Number of pages10
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH and Co. KG
Publication date30 Nov 2011
Pages219-228
ISBN (Print)9783110249446
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Nov 2011

ID: 284205699