Evolutionary mode and timing of dissemination of high-grade serous carcinomas.

Dissemination within the peritoneal cavity is a main determinant of poor patient outcomes from high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs). The dissemination process is poorly understood from a cancer evolutionary perspective. We reconstructed the evolutionary trajectories across a median of 5 tumor sites and regions from each of 23 patients based on deep whole-exome sequencing.

Frequent copy number gains of SLC2A3 and ETV1 in testicular embryonal carcinomas.

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) appear as different histological subtypes or mixtures of these. They show similar, multiple DNA copy number changes, where gain of 12p is pathognomonic. However, few high-resolution analyses have been performed and focal DNA copy number changes with corresponding candidate target genes remain poorly described for individual subtypes.

C77G in PTPRC (CD45) is no risk allele for ovarian cancer, but associated with less aggressive disease.

The pan lymphocyte marker CD45 exists in various isoforms arising from alternative splicing of the exons 4, 5 and 6. While naïve T cells express CD45RA translated from an mRNA containing exon 4, exons 4-6 are spliced out to encode the shorter CD45R0 in antigen-experienced effector/memory T cells. The SNP C77G (rs17612648) is located in exon 4 and blocks the exon's differential splicing from the pre-mRNA, enforcing expression of CD45RA.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.

The purpose of this study was to determine the expression and potential clinical role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related factors in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCT). Protein expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, P-cadherin, Zeb1, HMGA2, and vimentin by immunohistochemistry was analyzed in 42 MOGCT from patients treated in Norway during the period 1981-2001. Expression was analyzed for association with clinicopathologic parameters.

Exome sequencing of bilateral testicular germ cell tumors suggests independent development lineages.

Intratubular germ cell neoplasia, the precursor of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), is hypothesized to arise during embryogenesis from developmentally arrested primordial germ cells (PGCs) or gonocytes. In early embryonal life, the PGCs migrate from the yolk sac to the dorsal body wall where the cell population separates before colonizing the genital ridges. However, whether the malignant transformation takes place before or after this separation is controversial.

Meta-analysis identifies four new loci associated with testicular germ cell tumor.

We conducted a meta-analysis to identify new susceptibility loci for testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT). In the discovery phase, we analyzed 931 affected individuals and 1,975 controls from 3 genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We conducted replication in 6 independent sample sets comprising 3,211 affected individuals and 7,591 controls.

The testicular germ cell tumour transcriptome.

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) are characterized by young age of onset and a complex pattern of histological subtypes. Transcriptomic studies have tried to uncover the gene expression patterns underlying this. Here, we present a systematic review of transcriptome studies of TGCTs of adolescents and young adults and identify genes common across the various studies, both for TGCTs in general as well as the histological subtypes, hence elucidating both transcriptional changes associated with malignant transformation and differentiation patterns.

Functional glutathione S-transferase genotypes among testicular germ cell tumor survivors: associations with primary and post-chemotherapy tumor histology.

Purpose: The pathogenesis of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathogenic role of functional polymorphisms in detoxification enzymes among TGCT patients, through association studies of constitutive genotypes and medical parameters before and after chemotherapy.

Experimental Design: Germline deletion polymorphisms in the glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1) and the GST theta 1 (GSTT1), and a functional single nucleotide polymorphism in GST pi 1 (GSTP1, Ile105Val), were analyzed in TGCT survivors (TCSs) (n = 675) and controls (n = 189).

Association between long-term neuro-toxicities in testicular cancer survivors and polymorphisms in glutathione-s-transferase-P1 and -M1, a retrospective cross sectional study.

Background: To assess the impact of polymorphisms in Glutathione S-transferase (GST) -P1, -M1, and -T1 on self-reported chemotherapy-induced long-term toxicities in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs).

Methods: A total of 238 TCSs, who had received cisplatin-based chemotherapy at median twelve years earlier, had participated in a long-term follow-up survey which assessed the prevalence of self-reported paresthesias in fingers/toes, Raynaud-like phenomena in fingers/toes, tinnitus, and hearing impairment. From all TCSs lymphocyte-derived DNA was analyzed for the functional A-->G polymorphism at bp 304 in GSTP1, and deletions in GST-M1 and GST-T1.

Ovarian dysgerminomas are characterised by frequent KIT mutations and abundant expression of pluripotency markers.

Background: Ovarian germ cell tumours (OGCTs) typically arise in young females and their pathogenesis remains poorly understood. We investigated the origin of malignant OGCTs and underlying molecular events in the development of the various histological subtypes of this neoplasia.

Results: We examined in situ expression of stem cell-related (NANOG, OCT-3/4, KIT, AP-2gamma) and germ cell-specific proteins (MAGE-A4, NY-ESO-1, TSPY) using a tissue microarray consisting of 60 OGCT tissue samples and eight ovarian small cell carcinoma samples.

Cisplatin-induced long-term hearing impairment is associated with specific glutathione s-transferase genotypes in testicular cancer survivors.

Purpose: Cisplatin, a cornerstone of combination chemotherapy in the treatment of testicular cancer, induces hearing impairment with considerable interindividual variations. These differences might be a result of functional polymorphisms in cisplatin-detoxifying enzymes like glutathione S-transferases (GSTs).

Patients And Methods: We identified 173 cisplatin-treated testicular cancer survivors (TCSs) who had participated in a long-term survey that included audiometric testing and lymphocyte sampling.

Novel genomic aberrations in testicular germ cell tumors by array-CGH, and associated gene expression changes.

Introduction: Testicular germ cell tumors of adolescent and young adult men (TGCTs) generally have near triploid and complex karyotypes. The actual genes driving the tumorigenesis remain essentially to be identified.

Materials And Methods: To determine the detailed DNA copy number changes, and investigate their impact on gene expression levels, we performed an integrated microarray profiling of TGCT genomes and transcriptomes.

Evaluation of genomic changes in a large series of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors--relation to clinicopathologic variables.

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (mOGCT) affect women in their reproductive years, making fertility-saving treatment important. A reliable prediction of the clinical behavior is essential for an optimal therapeutic approach. The genetic changes and molecular mechanisms underlying these rare tumors remain poorly understood.

Lack of parental origin specificity of altered alleles at 11p15 in testicular germ cell tumors.

Allelic imbalance (AI) at loci on chromosome 11 has been shown in several types of human solid tumors, including testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). In this study we have focused on the 11p15 region, which is known for its high density of imprinted genes. Highly polymorphic microsatellite markers were analyzed in a series of 71 TGCTs, and AI was observed in 28 of the tumors (39%) at one or more of the loci analyzed.

Genome profiles of bilateral dysgerminomas, a unilateral gonadoblastoma, and a metastasis from a 46, XY phenotypic female.

We present a case report of a 16-year-old, phenotypic female with bilateral dysgerminomas, a unilateral gonadoblastoma, and a peritoneal metastasis. The patient's constitutional karyotype was 46,XY. The chromosomal copy number, examined by the comparative genomic hybridization technique, showed 3 gains in the dysgerminoma of the right ovary, 6 gains in the dysgerminoma of the left ovary, and 2 gains and 1 loss in the gonadoblastoma of the left ovary.

Distinct epigenetic phenotypes in seminomatous and nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumors.

The genetic nature of testicular germ cell tumors and the molecular mechanisms underlying the morphological and clinical differences between the two subtypes, seminomas and nonseminomas, remains unclear. Genetic studies show that both subtypes exhibit many of the same regional genomic disruptions, although the frequencies vary and few clear differences are found. We demonstrate significant epigenetic differences between seminomas and nonseminomas by restriction landmark genomic scanning.

Genome profiles of familial/bilateral and sporadic testicular germ cell tumors.

In order to investigate the genetics of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), we examined 33 TGCTs, including 15 familial/bilateral and 18 sporadic tumors, using comparative genomic hybridization. The frequencies of the histological subtypes were comparable between the two groups. Gains of the whole or parts of chromosome 12 were found in 30 tumors (91%).

Alterations of the fragile histidine triad gene, FHIT, and its encoded products contribute to testicular germ cell tumorigenesis.

The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene, located within chromosome arm 3p, is a potential target for testicular tumorigenesis. In the present study, 62 primary testicular germ cell tumors were analyzed for allelic imbalance (AI) at 10 loci mapping to chromosome bands 3p14.1-21.

Genome profiling of breast cancer cells selected against in vitro shows copy number changes.

About 20% of breast carcinomas show no clonal chromosome abnormalities when analyzed after short-term culturing. An interesting question is whether this subset of breast carcinomas really is karyotypically normal or if selection for normal cells occurred in vitro. To address this issue, 26 breast carcinomas that had shown no cytogenetic changes by chromosome banding analysis were examined by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), a technique that does not require culturing or tumor metaphase cells.

Evaluation of breast cancer polyclonality by combined chromosome banding and comparative genomic hybridization analysis.

Cytogenetically unrelated clones have been detected by chromosome banding analysis in many breast carcinomas. Because these karyotypic studies were performed on short-term cultured samples, it may be argued that in vitro selection occurred or that small clones may have arisen during culturing. To address this issue, we analyzed 37 breast carcinomas by G-banding and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), a fluorescent in situ hybridization--based screening technique that does not require culturing or tumor metaphases.

Familial/bilateral and sporadic testicular germ cell tumors show frequent genetic changes at loci with suggestive linkage evidence.

Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) is the most common tumor type among adolescent and young adult males. Familial clustering and bilateral disease are suggestive of a genetic predisposition among a subgroup of these patients, but susceptibility genes for testicular cancer have not yet been identified. However, suggestive linkage between disease and genetic markers has been reported at loci on chromosome arms 3q, 5q, 12q, 18q, and Xq.

Evaluation of loss of heterozygosity/allelic imbalance scoring in tumor DNA.

Loss of heterozygosity and allelic imbalance in tumors are usually detected by either radioactive labeling of PCR products with subsequent scoring of autoradiographs or by a semi-quantitative fluorescence-based protocol. Polymorphic microsatellite loci are the most common marker type used in these studies. Even though no consensus exists as to how to evaluate such data, results are often compared directly between studies applying the two different protocols.

Primary cervical carcinomas show 2 common regions of deletion at 3P, 1 within the FHIT gene: evaluation of allelic imbalance at FHIT, RB1 and TP53 in relation to survival.

Chromosome arm 3p is re-arranged in many tumor types, including cervical carcinomas. Putative tumor-suppressor genes on 3p have been proposed, including the FHIT gene, which maps to chromosome band 3p14.2.

DNA copy number changes in malignant ovarian germ cell tumors.

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (OGCTs) include immature teratomas (ITs), dysgerminomas (DGs), endodermal sinus tumors (ESTs), choriocarcinomas, and embryonal carcinomas. Knowledge about the genetic changes associated with malignant OGCT development is sparse. We therefore analyzed 25 OGCTs (12 DGs, 4 ESTs, and 9 ITs) for gains and losses by comparative genomic hybridization.