miRNAs and Biomarkers in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: An Update

Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 30;22(3):1380. doi: 10.3390/ijms22031380.

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.

Keywords: biomarker; microRNA; testicular germ cell tumors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Liquid Biopsy / methods
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / analysis*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Testicular Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Testicular Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Testicular Neoplasms / genetics
  • Testicular Neoplasms / pathology
  • Testis / metabolism
  • Testis / pathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • MicroRNAs

Supplementary concepts

  • Testicular Germ Cell Tumor