Molecular Biomarkers With Potential Clinical Application in Testicular Cancer

João Lobo; Andres M Acosta; George J Netto

doi:10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100307

Molecular Biomarkers With Potential Clinical Application in Testicular Cancer

Mod Pathol. 2023 Oct;36(10):100307. doi: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100307. Epub 2023 Aug 21.

Authors

João Lobo¹, Andres M Acosta², George J Netto³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center Raquel Seruca (P.CCC), Porto, Portugal; Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (GEBC CI-IPOP), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center Raquel Seruca & RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Porto, Portugal; Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
² Department of Pathology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana.
³ Heersink School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. Electronic address: gnetto@uabmc.edu.

PMID: 37611872
DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100307

Abstract

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) and sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs) are the most common testicular neoplasms. The morphologic spectrum of such tumors is wide, with several histologic subtypes within each group. Testicular tumors often represent a diagnostic challenge, requiring proper identification of their biologic potential for accurate risk stratification and selection of therapy. In the era of precision medicine, molecular biomarkers are increasingly assuming a critical role in the management of patients with cancer. Given the overall rarity of certain types of testicular neoplasms, progress in biomarker research has been relatively slow. However, in recent years, we have witnessed a multitude of important contributions, including both tissue-based and liquid biopsy biomarkers, stemming from important discoveries of tumor pathobiology, accurate histopathological analysis, multi-institutional studies, and genome-wide molecular analyses of specific tumor subtypes. In this review, we provide an overview of the progress in molecular biomarkers of TGCTs and SCSTs, focusing on those with greatest potential for clinical application. In TGCTs, developmental biology has been the key to understanding these tumors and identifying clinically useful biomarkers (from classical serum tumor markers to pluripotency factors and circulating microRNAs of the 371-373 cluster). For SCSTs, studies have focused on tissue biomarkers only, and genome-wide investigations have recently contributed to a better understanding of rare phenotypes and the aggressive biological behavior of some tumors within this nosologic category. Several new biomarkers are moving toward clinical implementation in this field. Therefore, the practicing pathologist should be aware of their strengths and limitations in order to utilize them properly and maximize their clinical benefits.

Keywords: biomarkers; germ cell tumors; liquid biopsies; molecular pathology; sex cord-stromal tumors; testicular cancer.

Publication types

Review