Molecular heterogeneity and early metastatic clone selection in testicular germ cell cancer development.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC), being the most frequent malignancy in young Caucasian males, is initiated from an embryonic germ cell. This study determines intratumour heterogeneity to unravel tumour progression from initiation until metastasis.

Methods

In total, 42 purified samples of four treatment-resistant nonseminomatous (NS) TGCC were investigated, including the precursor germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS) and metastatic specimens, using whole-genome and targeted sequencing. Their evolution was reconstructed.

Results

Intratumour molecular heterogeneity did not correspond to the supposed primary tumour histological evolution. Metastases after systemic treatment could be derived from cancer stem cells not identified in the primary cancer. GCNIS mo

SUBMITTER: Dorssers LCJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6461884 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature