Dendritic Cell Infiltration In A Patient With Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumor Of The Testis: Is There A Relationship With Infertility And Tumor Stage?

Comprehensive Analysis Identifies Ameloblastin-Related Competitive Endogenous RNA as a Prognostic Biomarker for Testicular Germ Cell Tumour

Testicular Germ Cell Tumour (TGCT) is one of the most common tumours in young men. Increasing evidence shows that the extracellular matrix has a key role in the prognosis and metastasis of various human cancers. This study analysed the relationship between the matrix protein ameloblastin (AMBN) and potential biological markers associated with TGCT diagnosis and prognosis. The relationship between AMBN and TGCT prognosis was determined by bioinformatic analysis using the expression profiles of three RNAs (long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and available clinical information of the corresponding patients. Prediction and validation of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks related to AMBN was performed. AMBN and its associated ceRNA regulatory network were found to be related to the recurrence of TGCT, and LINC02701 may be used as a diagnostic factor in TGCT. Furthermore, we identified PELATON (Plaque Enriched LncRNA In Atherosclerotic And Inflammatory Bowel Macrophage Regulation) as an independent prognostic factor for TGCT progression-free interval.

Association of malignant neoplasms with semen quality in Guangdong province, China: A propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported lower semen quality in malignant neoplasm patients before antineoplastic treatments, but the adverse effects of malignant neoplasms on semen quality have rarely been quantitatively evaluated. In addition, due to the lack of a comparable control group and limited types of studied malignant neoplasms, the results remain inconsistent and inconclusive.

OBJECTIVES

To quantitatively evaluate the potential adverse effects of specific malignant neoplasms on semen quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate 445 malignant neoplasm patients undergoing sperm cryopreservation for fertility preservation in Guangdong province, China during 2016-2019. A propensity score matching method was used to select a comparable control group from 9170 sperm donation volunteers. Each subject was analyzed for semen quality. Multivariate linear regression models were employed to assess the association between malignant neoplasm and semen quality.

RESULTS

Using the propensity score matching method, 413 (92.8%) malignant neoplasm patients were successfully matched with 798 sperm donation volunteers. Overall, malignant neoplasms were significantly associated with a 0.3 ml, 17.1 × 10⁶ /ml, 67.6 × 10⁶ , 9.8%, 10.2%, and 6.4% reduction in semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number, total motility, progressive motility, and normal forms, respectively. Malignant neoplasm of testis, nasopharynx and digestive organs, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and leukemia were significantly associated with a reduction in sperm motility and normal forms, while malignant neoplasm of testis, Hodgkin lymphoma, and leukemia were also significantly associated with reduced sperm concentration and/or total sperm number. The reduction in sperm concentration and total sperm number associated with malignant neoplasms was significantly greater in subjects < 30 years.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

We found that malignant neoplasms were significantly associated with a reduction in semen quality, which varied across the type of malignant neoplasms. Our results highlight the needs to examine semen quality for young malignant neoplasm patients, especially those who are expected to conceive.

Are Changes in the Percentage of Specific Leukocyte Subpopulations Associated with Endogenous DNA Damage Levels in Testicular Cancer Patients?

Chemoresistance of germ cell tumors (GCTs) represents an intensively studied property of GCTs that is the result of a complicated multifactorial process. One of the driving factors in this process is the tumor microenvironment (TME). Intensive crosstalk between the DNA damage/DNA repair pathways and the TME has already been reported. This study aimed at evaluating the interplay between the immune TME and endogenous DNA damage levels in GCT patients. A cocultivation system consisting of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and GCT cell lines was used in an in vitro study. The patient cohort included 74 chemotherapy-naïve GCT patients. Endogenous DNA damage levels were measured by comet assay. Immunophenotyping of leukocyte subpopulations was performed using flow cytometry. Statistical analysis included data assessing immunophenotypes, DNA damage levels and clinicopathological characteristics of enrolled patients. The DNA damage level in PBMCs cocultivated with cisplatin (CDDP)-resistant GCT cell lines was significantly higher than in PBMCs cocultivated with their sensitive counterparts. In GCT patients, endogenous DNA damage levels above the cutoff value were independently associated with increased percentages of natural killer cells, CD16-positive dendritic cells and regulatory T cells. The crosstalk between the endogenous DNA damage level and specific changes in the immune TME reflected in the blood of GCT patients was revealed. The obtained data contribute to a deeper understanding of ongoing interactions in the TME of GCTs.

Immune mechanisms and possible immune therapy in testicular germ cell tumours

BACKGROUND

Testicular germ cell tumours (GCTs) are the only universally curable solid malignancy. The long-term cure rate of >95% is attributed to the extraordinary sensitivity to cisplatin-based treatment but a proportion of patients die due to a progression of the chemotherapy-refractory disease. While treatment of a variety of solid cancers was significantly improved with recent immune therapies, the immunology and immunotherapy remained underinvestigated in GCTs.

OBJECTIVES

In this narrative review, we summarize evidence about immune-related mechanisms and possible immune therapies in GCTs and provide insights and implications for future research and clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE to identify original and review articles reporting on immune mechanisms and immunotherapy in GCTs. Review articles were further searched for additional original articles.

RESULTS

Clear link of immune surveillance and the presence of GCT have been identified with several novel immune-related prognostic biomarkers published recently. Several case reports, case series, and preliminary results from phase I-II studies are emerging to report on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

DISCUSSION

Newly discovered immune biomarkers provide an evidence supporting the role of immune environment in the GCT biology. While these discoveries provide only an initial insight into the immunobiology, strong correlation with prognosis is evident. This provided a premise to investigate the treatment efficacy of novel immunotherapy. Some efficacy of these treatments has been reported in clinical setting; however, the results of published studies with immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy seem to be disappointing.

CONCLUSION

Immune-related mechanisms and efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in GCTs should be further investigated in preclinical and clinical studies.

Immune-Related Concepts in Biology and Treatment of Germ-Cell Tumors

Germ-cell tumors (GCTs) are highly curable with chemotherapy. Salvage chemotherapy or surgery can cure a proportion of patients, but the ones failing these treatments will die of their disease in the young age. Immune checkpoint pathways are emerging as powerful targetable biomarkers, and a significant preclinical and clinical research is underway to widen our knowledge and expand the treatment possibilities with immune therapy. The concept of immune modulation that was currently adopted in many solid tumors is understudied in GCTs. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge of published literature discussing the immune mechanisms and immune therapy in GCTs.

The Association Between Testis Cancer and Semen Abnormalities Before Orchiectomy: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are the most common solid organ malignancy in young men. It is a largely curable disease, so the extent to which it affects quality of life-including male fertility-is important. Abnormal semen analysis is highly predictive of male infertility. We conducted a systematic review of published studies that reported pre-orchiectomy semen parameters (as a surrogate for fertility) in TGCT patients to evaluate the association between TGCT and semen abnormalities before orchiectomy. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications reporting semen parameters before orchiectomy in adult patients diagnosed with TGCT. Further, we assessed the association between TGCT and semen abnormalities that may lead to infertility. Results: We applied MeSH search terms to four online databases (PubMed, Cochrane Reviews, Web of Science, and Ovid), resulting in 701 potentially relevant citations. After conducting a three-stage screening process, six articles were included in the systematic review. For each study, the participants' data and the study's quality and risk of bias were assessed and described. All studies showed semen abnormalities-including count, motility, and morphology-in men with TGCT prior to orchiectomy. Conclusions: TGCT is associated with semen abnormalities before orchiectomy. This review shows an increase in abnormal semen parameters among men with TGCT even outside the treatment effects of orchiectomy, radiation, or chemotherapy. To improve long-term quality of life, these findings should be considered when counseling patients on future fertility and sperm banking during discussions about treatment and prognosis for TGCT.