Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Germ cell tumors (GCT) might undergo transformation into a somatic-type malignancy (STM), resulting in a cell fate switch to tumors usually found in somatic tissues, such as rhabdomyosarcomas or adenocarcinomas. STM is associated with a poor prognosis, but the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms triggering STM are still enigmatic, the tissue-of-origin is under debate and biomarkers are lacking.Methods
To address these questions, we characterized a unique cohort of STM tissues on mutational, epigenetic and protein level using modern and high-throughput methods like TSO assays, 850k DNA methylation arrays and mass spectrometry.Results and conclusions
For the first time, we show that based on DNA methylation and proteome data carcinoma-related STM more closely resemble yolk-sac tumors, while sarcoma-related STM resemble teratoma. STM harbor mutations in FGF signaling factors (FGF6/23, FGFR1/4) highlighting the corresponding pathway as a therapeutic target. Furthermore, STM utilize signaling pathways, like AKT, FGF, MAPK, and WNT to mediate molecular functions coping with oxidative stress, toxin transport, DNA helicase activity, apoptosis and the cell cycle. Collectively, these data might explain the high therapy resistance of STM. Finally, we identified putative novel biomarkers secreted by STM, like EFEMP1, MIF, and DNA methylation at specific CpG dinucleotides.
SUBMITTER: Bremmer F
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10645790 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Bremmer Felix F Pongratanakul Pailin P Skowron Margaretha M Che Yue Y Richter Annika A Küffer Stefan S Reuter-Jessen Kirsten K Bohnenberger Hanibal H Pauls Stella S Kresbach Catena C Schüller Ulrich U Stühler Kai K Ströbel Philipp P Albers Peter P Nettersheim Daniel D
British journal of cancer 20230919 10
<h4>Background</h4>Germ cell tumors (GCT) might undergo transformation into a somatic-type malignancy (STM), resulting in a cell fate switch to tumors usually found in somatic tissues, such as rhabdomyosarcomas or adenocarcinomas. STM is associated with a poor prognosis, but the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms triggering STM are still enigmatic, the tissue-of-origin is under debate and biomarkers are lacking.<h4>Methods</h4>To address these questions, we characterized a unique cohort of STM ...[more]