Recent advances in testicular germ cell tumours

Teresa Mele; Alison Reid; Robert Huddart

doi:10.12703/r/10-67

Recent advances in testicular germ cell tumours

Fac Rev. 2021 Aug 31:10:67. doi: 10.12703/r/10-67. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Teresa Mele^{1

2}, Alison Reid¹, Robert Huddart^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, UK.
² The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.

Abstract

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) are the most common solid tumours in young men and have an excellent overall cure rate and prognosis. In most patients, localised disease is cured by surgery alone, and a minority of patients receive short-course adjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the risk of further relapse. Also, in about 80% of patients, metastatic disease can be cured by systemic cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Unfortunately, for a proportion of patients, the disease exhibits platinum resistance and relapse occurs. Despite further lines of systemic treatment, cure can be difficult to achieve in these patients and ultimately about 20% of them will die from disease progression. Addressing the mechanisms underpinning platinum resistance is critical to improving the survival and chances of cure for these patients. This review describes the latest advances in TGCT research, focusing on the identification of novel biomarkers, genetic characteristics and exploring novel treatments.

Keywords: biomarkers; genetic hallmarks; germ cell cancer; novel treatments; testicular germ cell tumours.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This review represents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Cancer Research, London. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.