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Germ Cells and Genitourinary Cancers 2.0

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Guest Editor
Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
Interests: testicular germ cell tumors (tgcts); hormones
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Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Interests: spermatogenesis; reproduction; hormones; testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs); seminoma; estrogens; HHGA1/2; PATZ1
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Interests: andrology; reproductive endocrinology; male infertility; assisted reproduction; sexual medicine; sperm function; sexual infectious diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of gonads (testis and ovary) is tightly regulated by the sequential expression of many genes and hormonal activity. Disturbance of this regulation by intrinsic (i.e., spontaneous genetic or epigenetic changes) or extrinsic factors (i.e., exposure to toxicants in utero) might not only prevent proper development of the gonads but also contribute to the development of germ cell tumors (GCTs). GCTs are a histologically diverse group of neoplasms with a common origin in the stem cells of the early embryo and germ line. They include ovarian and testicular germ cell tumors that occur in the gonads and tumors that occur at extragonadal sites, along the route where primordial germ cells migrate during embryogenesis. Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in women and the most lethal disease among gynecological malignances, with a five-year survival rate below 45%. Testicular tumors are the most frequent solid tumors in adolescent and young adult males with a lifetime risk of about 0.5–1% that has increased in some western countries up to threefold. Contrary to most ovarian cancers, they are highly curable (over 80% of the cases) even at metastatic stage. However, for approximately 20% of patients in whom current salvage high-dose chemotherapy ultimately fails, new targeted approaches are not currently available. A better understanding of germ cell development, tumor pathogenesis and progression-related events warrant further investigation, as they will likely provide the foundations for the development of new tailored therapies for patients resistant to standard treatments.

Given the developmentally related origin of germ cell tumors, the aim of this Special Issue is to gather studies describing the development of germ cells in all their aspects, with particular interest in those describing the molecular mechanisms beyond germ cell alteration in utero and at postnatal age, which might impact cancerous development and progression. Moreover, studies about new molecular approaches for characterizing properties and alternative strategies for the treatment of GCTs and more broadly genitourinary cancers are of particular interest. Furthermore, considering the impact of chemotherapy on the fertility of GCT cancer patients, investigators describing new strategies for fertility preservation in chemotherapy-treated patients are also encouraged to submit their work.

The articles that will be considered for publication are:

  • Original studies;
  • Reviews;
  • Technical advancements for tumor characterization and/or diagnosis.

Dr. Marco Barchi
Prof. Dr. Paolo Chieffi
Prof. Dr. Andrea Garolla
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • meiosis
  • germ cell development
  • germ cell cancer
  • fertility preservation
  • testis
  • ovary

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 3405 KiB  
Communication
Preliminary Investigation on the Involvement of Cytoskeleton-Related Proteins, DAAM1 and PREP, in Human Testicular Disorders
by Massimo Venditti, Davide Arcaniolo, Marco De Sio and Sergio Minucci
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(15), 8094; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22158094 - 28 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2241
Abstract
Herein, for the first time, the potential relationships between the cytoskeleton-associated proteins DAAM1 and PREP with different testicular disorders, such as classic seminoma (CS), Leydig cell tumor (LCT), and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SOS), were evaluated. Six CS, two LCT, and two SOS tissue [...] Read more.
Herein, for the first time, the potential relationships between the cytoskeleton-associated proteins DAAM1 and PREP with different testicular disorders, such as classic seminoma (CS), Leydig cell tumor (LCT), and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SOS), were evaluated. Six CS, two LCT, and two SOS tissue samples were obtained during inguinal exploration in patients with a suspect testis tumor based on clinical examination and ultrasonography. DAAM1 and PREP protein levels and immunofluorescent localization were analyzed. An increased DAAM1 protein level in CS and SOS as compared to non-pathological (NP) tissue was observed, while LCT showed no significant differences. Conversely, PREP protein level increased in LCT, while it decreased in CS and SOS compared to NP tissue. These results were strongly supported by the immunofluorescence staining, revealing an altered localization and signal intensity of DAAM1 and PREP in the analyzed samples, highlighting a perturbed cytoarchitecture. Interestingly, in LCT spermatogonia, a specific DAAM1 nuclear localization was found, probably due to an enhanced testosterone production, as confirmed by the increased protein levels of steroidogenic enzymes. Finally, although further studies are needed to verify the involvement of other formins and microtubule-associated proteins, this report raised the opportunity to indicate DAAM1 and PREP as new potential markers, supporting the cytoskeleton dynamics changes occurring during normal and/or pathological cell differentiation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germ Cells and Genitourinary Cancers 2.0)
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Review

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14 pages, 3892 KiB  
Review
The Enigmatic Role of TP53 in Germ Cell Tumours: Are We Missing Something?
by Margaret Ottaviano, Emilio Francesco Giunta, Pasquale Rescigno, Ricardo Pereira Mestre, Laura Marandino, Marianna Tortora, Vittorio Riccio, Sara Parola, Milena Casula, Panagiotis Paliogiannis, Antonio Cossu, Ursula Maria Vogl, Davide Bosso, Mario Rosanova, Brunello Mazzola, Bruno Daniele, Giuseppe Palmieri and Giovannella Palmieri
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 7160; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22137160 - 2 Jul 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2823
Abstract
The cure rate of germ cell tumours (GCTs) has significantly increased from the late 1970s since the introduction of cisplatin-based therapy, which to date remains the milestone for GCTs treatment. The exquisite cisplatin sensitivity has been mainly explained by the over-expression in GCTs [...] Read more.
The cure rate of germ cell tumours (GCTs) has significantly increased from the late 1970s since the introduction of cisplatin-based therapy, which to date remains the milestone for GCTs treatment. The exquisite cisplatin sensitivity has been mainly explained by the over-expression in GCTs of wild-type TP53 protein and the lack of TP53 somatic mutations; however, several other mechanisms seem to be involved, many of which remain still elusive. The findings about the role of TP53 in platinum-sensitivity and resistance, as well as the reported evidence of second cancers (SCs) in GCT patients treated only with surgery, suggesting a spectrum of cancer predisposing syndromes, highlight the need for a deepened understanding of the role of TP53 in GCTs. In the following report we explore the complex role of TP53 in GCTs cisplatin-sensitivity and resistance mechanisms, passing through several recent genomic studies, as well as its role in GCT patients with SCs, going through our experience of Center of reference for both GCTs and cancer predisposing syndromes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germ Cells and Genitourinary Cancers 2.0)
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