Intratubular germ cell neoplasia of the testis: a brief review

Looking for Tumor Specific Promoters In Silico

Abstract—

Previously we demonstrated the tumor-specific activity of several human native and chimeric promoters. Here we have analyzed the DNA sequences of experimentally tested tumor-specific promoters for the presence of recognition matrices of transcription factors and for de novo motif discovery. CiiiDER and MEME Suite software tools were used for this purpose. A number of transcription factor matrices have been identified, which are present more often in tumor-specific promoters than in the promoters of housekeeping genes. New promoter–TF regulatory relationships have been predicted by pathway analysis. A motif of 44 bp characteristic of tumor-specific promoters but not of housekeeping gene promoters has been discovered. The search through 29 598 human promoters from the EPDnew promoter database has revealed a series of promoters with this motif, their genes being associated with unfavorable prognoses in cancer. We suppose that some of these promoters may possess a tumor specific activity. In addition, a close similarity in nucleotide motifs between the promoters of the BIRC5 and MCM2 genes has been shown. The results of the study may contribute to understanding the peculiarities of gene transcription in tumors, as well as to searching for native tumor-specific promoters or creating artificial ones for cancer gene therapy, as well as in the development of anticancer vaccines.

Pathogenesis of Testicular Germ Cell Neoplasia: A Conceptual Approach

Testicular germ cell tumors are a diverse group of neoplasms, consisting of the prepubertal type 1 tumors, pure teratoma, and pure yolk sac tumor, the type 2 tumors, which are biologically malignant, preceded by germ cell neoplasia in situ, and harbor chromosome 12p abnormalities, and the type 3 tumor, spermatocytic tumor, which features chromosome 9p amplification. These arise in distinct clinical settings, and harbor distinct genetic abnormalities, immunohistochemical properties, and morphologic features. Here we have attempted to unify embryology, morphology, immunohistochemistry, and genetics in order to distill this fascinating group of neoplasms into what we hope is a useful framework for understanding their classification.

Germ cell neoplasia in situ complicating 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 deficiency

17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17βHSD3) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder of male sex development that results in defective testosterone biosynthesis. Although mutations in the cognate HSD17B3 gene cause a spectrum of phenotypic manifestations, the majority of affected patients are genetic males having female external genitalia. Many cases do not present until puberty, at which time peripheral conversion of androgen precursors causes progressive virilization. Measurement of the testosterone-to-androstenedione ratio is useful to screen for 17βHSD3 deficiency, and genetic analysis can confirm the diagnosis. As some individuals with 17βHSD3 deficiency transition from a female sex assignment to identifying as males, providers should ensure stable gender identity prior to recommending irreversible treatments. Gonadectomy is indicated to prevent further virilization if a female gender identity is established. The risk of testicular neoplasia is unknown, a point which should be discussed if patients elect to transition into a male gender role.

First Case of Mature Teratoma and Yolk Sac Testis Tumor Associated to Inherited MEN-1 Syndrome

Introduction: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominantly inherited endocrine tumor syndrome characterized by the development of cancer in various endocrine organs, particularly in the pituitary, parathyroid and pancreas. Moreover, in some cases, also non-endocrine tumors can be diagnosed, developing atypical phenotypes. Case report: We report herein the clinical history of a patient affected by MEN-1 syndrome who developed atypical features for this disease. The patient's clinical history started in August 2015 when he was referred, at the age of 23 years, to the Emergency Department of our Hospital for the occurrence of progressive asthenia, weakness, tremors and syncope. The biochemical test documented hyper-calcemia and severe hypoglycemia. The patient was referred to our Neuroendocrine Tumor and Pituitary Unit and he was diagnosed with pancreatic insulinoma, hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism, and a prolactin secreting pituitary adenoma. The MEN-1 syndrome was suspected and genetic tests for mutation of menin resulted positive for the pathogenic variant c1548dupG. In January 2016, the patient was diagnosed with intratubular germ cell neoplasia, consisting of a mature teratoma and yolk sac tumor and he underwent a right orchiectomy. Conclusion: This is the first case report showing the clear association of MEN-1 syndrome with yolk sac tumors and teratomas, as in our case, the c1548dupG represents a pathogenic variant rather than a SNP. This case suggests the opportunity of an accurate evaluation of the testis particularly in young MEN-1 affected patients and that a prompt screening for neoplastic disease should involve all the endocrine glands.

Proceedings of the 2017 National Toxicology Program Satellite Symposium

The 2017 annual National Toxicology Program Satellite Symposium, entitled "Pathology Potpourri," was held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the Society of Toxicologic Pathology's 36th annual meeting. The goal of this symposium was to present and discuss challenging diagnostic pathology and/or nomenclature issues. This article presents summaries of the speakers' talks along with select images that were used by the audience for voting and discussion. Various lesions and other topics covered during the symposium included renal papillary degeneration in perinatally exposed animals, an atriocaval mesothelioma, an unusual presentation of an alveolar-bronchiolar carcinoma, a paraganglioma of the organ of Zuckerkandl (also called an extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma), the use of human muscle samples to illustrate the challenges of manual scoring of fluorescent staining, intertubular spermatocytic seminomas, medical device pathology assessment and discussion of the approval process, collagen-induced arthritis, incisor denticles, ameloblast degeneration and poorly mineralized enamel matrix, connective tissue paragangliomas, microcystin-LR toxicity, perivascular mast cells in the forebrain thalamus unrelated to treatment, and 2 cases that provided a review of the International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria (INHAND) bone nomenclature and recommended application of the terminology in routine nonclinical toxicity studies.

Extremely Late Recurrence 21 Years after Total Removal of Immature Teratoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Immature teratoma (IMT) is normally treated by resection and adjuvant therapy. The present unusual case of recurrent germinoma occurred 21 years after total resection of pineal IMT. A 3-year-old boy presented with headache, disturbance of consciousness, and Parinaud's syndrome. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a pineal mass lesion, and total resection of the tumor was achieved. The histological diagnosis was mature teratoma. He did not receive further treatment, and did well without recurrence for 20 years. However, he suffered headache 21 years after resection, and MR imaging revealed a homogeneously enhanced pineal mass with low minimum apparent diffusion coefficient value and proton MR spectroscopy showed a huge lipid peak. The levels of tumor markers were not elevated. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology found atypical cells with large nuclei and irregularly shaped nucleoli. To elucidate the relationship between the primary and recurrent tumors, we reviewed the histological specimens and CSF cytology at the initial treatment and found a subset of incompletely differentiated components resembling fetal tissues in the histological specimen and atypical large cells in the CSF. Based on these radiological and histological findings, we presume that the recurrent disease was disseminated germinoma after the resection of disseminated IMT. He received chemotherapy and craniospinal radiation therapy, and the enhanced lesion and atypical cells in the CSF disappeared. This case demonstrates that disseminated IMT can be controlled for the long term without adjuvant therapy, but may recur as germinoma. Tumor dormancy may account for this unusual course.

Imprints and DPPA3 are bypassed during pluripotency- and differentiation-coupled methylation reprogramming in testicular germ cell tumors

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) share germline ancestry but diverge phenotypically and clinically as seminoma (SE) and nonseminoma (NSE), the latter including the pluripotent embryonal carcinoma (EC) and its differentiated derivatives, teratoma (TE), yolk sac tumor (YST), and choriocarcinoma. Epigenomes from TGCTs may illuminate reprogramming in both normal development and testicular tumorigenesis. Herein we investigate pure-histological forms of 130 TGCTs for conserved and subtype-specific DNA methylation, including analysis of relatedness to pluripotent stem cell (ESC, iPSC), primordial germ cell (PGC), and differentiated somatic references. Most generally, TGCTs conserve PGC-lineage erasure of maternal and paternal genomic imprints and DPPA3 (also known as STELLA); however, like ESCs, TGCTs show focal recurrent imprinted domain hypermethylation. In this setting of shared physiologic erasure, NSEs harbor a malignancy-associated hypermethylation core, akin to that of a diverse cancer compendium. Beyond these concordances, we found subtype epigenetic homology with pluripotent versus differentiated states. ECs demonstrate a striking convergence of both CpG and CpH (non-CpG) methylation with pluripotent states; the pluripotential methyl-CpH signature crosses species boundaries and is distinct from neuronal methyl-CpH. EC differentiation to TE and YST entails reprogramming toward the somatic state, with loss of methyl-CpH but de novo methylation of pluripotency loci such as NANOG. Extreme methyl-depletion among SE reflects the PGC methylation nadir. Adjacent to TGCTs, benign testis methylation profiles are determined by spermatogenetic proficiency measured by Johnsen score. In sum, TGCTs share collective entrapment in a PGC-like state of genomic-imprint and DPPA3 erasure, recurrent hypermethylation of cancer-associated targets, and subtype-dependent pluripotent, germline, or somatic methylation.

Fibrillin-1 (FBN-1) a new marker of germ cell neoplasia in situ

Background

Germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS), is preinvasive stage of testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs). Fibrillins, which are integral components of microfibrils are suggested to be involved in cancer pathogenesis and maintenance of embryonic stem cells pluripotency. The aim of this study was to examine fibrillin-1 (FBN-1) expression in TGCTs patients.

Methods

Surgical specimens from 203 patients with TGCTs were included into the translational study. FBN-1 expression was evaluated in the tumour tissue, in GCNIS and in adjacent non-neoplastic testicular tissue in all available cases. Tissue samples were processed by the tissue microarray method. FBN-1 was detected by immunohistochemistry using goat polyclonal antibody and the expression was evaluated by the multiplicative quickscore (QS).

Results

The highest FBN-1 positivity was detected in GCNIS (mean QS = 11.30), with overexpression of FBN-1 (QS >9) in the majority (77.1 %) of cases. Expression of FBN-1 in all subtypes of TGCTs was significantly lower in comparison to expression in GCNIS (all p <0.001). Seminoma had significantly higher expression compared to EC, ChC and TER (all p <0.05), but not to YST (p = 0.84). In non-neoplastic testicular tissue the FBN-1 positivity was very low (mean QS = 0.02). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of FBN-1 expression for diagnosis of GCNIS were 97.1, 98.8, 98.6 and 97.7 %.

Conclusions

FBN-1 is overexpressed in TGCTs and especially in GCNIS when compared to non-neoplastic testicular tissue in patients with germ cell tumors and could be involved in germ cell neoplasia in situ development.