miRNAs and Biomarkers in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: An Update

Abstract

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the leading form of solid cancer and death affecting males between the ages of 20 and 40. Today, their surgical resection and chemotherapy are the treatments of first choice, even if sometimes this is not enough to save the lives of patients with TGCT. As seen for several tumors, the deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is also a key feature in TGCTs. miRNAs are small molecules of RNA with biological activity that are released into biological fluids by testicular cancer cells. Their presence, therefore, can be detected and monitored by considering miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers for TGCTs. The purpose of this review is to collect all the studies executed on miRNAs that have a potential role as biomarkers for testicular tumors.

Improving outcomes in germ cell cancers using miRNA

“…In addition to refining the above clinical scenarios, there is space to embed miRNA evaluation into routine surveillance, reducing the frequency of CT, as well as a possible place in treatment given the integral role miRNA play in the oncogenesis of TGCTs. 49,[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][122][123][124][125] Prospective trials evaluating the role of miRNA in CS1 TGCT, such as SWOG1823 and AGCT1531, are currently ongoing, however additional trials across the TGCT disease spectrum are required to…”

“…In addition to refining the above clinical scenarios, there is space to embed miRNA evaluation into routine surveillance, reducing the frequency of CT, as well as a possible place in treatment given the integral role miRNA play in the oncogenesis of TGCTs. 49,[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][122][123][124][125] Prospective trials evaluating the role of miRNA in CS1 TGCT, such as SWOG1823 and AGCT1531, are currently ongoing, however additional trials across the TGCT disease spectrum are required to validate existing datasets and further elucidate the role of this technology in the clinics. [86][87][88] If early data are able to be replicated in these prospective trials, serum miR-371a-3p has the ability to alter routine surveillance for many men, offering an inexpensive, safe, and precise tool that will personalize care and prevent over-treatment in a group of men with an otherwise excellent prognosis.…”

Testicular Germ Cell Tumours and Proprotein Convertases

“…Some examples of that are the chromatin architectural factors of the HMGA family, the transcriptional repressor PATZ, the developmental regulator GPR30 and the cell cycle regulator Aurora B kinase. These have diagnostic value when analysing the histology of the tumours, and GPR30 and Aurora B Kinase are currently being studied in the hope of creating novel therapeutic approaches [ 67 ].…”

Current State of Personalized Genitourinary Cancer Radiotherapy in the Era of Precision Medicine

“…Tumor size has been suggested as a risk factor for recurrence, however data is mixed on its prognostic ability (129,130). miRNAs have demonstrated early promise as both diagnostic and prognostic markers (131,132) but validation is required. The surveillance strategy consists of frequent computed tomography scans and follow-up.…”