In Utero Programming of Testicular Cancer

Abstract

It is well established that the intrauterine biological environment plays important roles in fetal development. In this review, we re-visit the hypothesis that testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC), especially in adolescents and young adults, has been programmed in utero. The origin for extreme in utero environments is mostly maternal driven and may be due to nutritional, physical and psychological stressful conditions that alter the optimal molecular and biophysical in utero environments. Moreover, precursors for TGCC may originate as early as during fertilization or implantation of the blastocyst. Further investigations of human developmental biology, both in vivo and in vitro, are needed in order to establish better understanding of in utero programming of future wellbeing or diseases.

Stress of Prematurity in the Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Current State of Knowledge

“…Intrauterine concentration of estrogen, which increases circa 10 times in the female and 100 times in the male fetus, may affect invalid germ cells development. Moreover unequal maternal nutrition may also induce alternations in development of fetal cells with following risk of teratogenesis in metabolic, anthropometric and behavioral functions [ 23 ]. Another study suggested that fetal programming, by decreased size of placenta in association with large birth weight (LGA) and low placenta-to-birthweight ratio, may impact to increased risk of developing Wilms tumor in the offspring [ 24 ].…”