Biomarkers for Salvage Therapy in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors.

Abstract

The outcome of metastatic testicular germ cell tumor patients has been dramatically improved by cisplatin-based chemotherapy combinations. However, up to 30% of patients with advanced disease relapse after first-line therapy and require salvage regimens, which include treatments with conventional-dose chemotherapy or high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation. For these patients, prognosis estimation represents an essential step in the choice of medical treatment but still remains a complex challenge. The available histological, clinical, and biochemical parameters attempt to define the prognosis, but they do not reflect the tumor's molecular and pathological features and do not predict who will exhibit resistance to the several treatments. Molecular selection of patients and validated biomarkers are highly needed in order to improve current risk stratification and identify novel therapeutic approaches for patients with recurrent disease. Biomolecular biomarkers, including microRNAs, gene expression profiles, and immune-related biomarkers are currently under investigation in testicular germ cell tumors and could potentially hold a prominent place in the future treatment selection and prognostication of these tumors. The aim of this review is to summarize current scientific data regarding prognostic and predictive biomarkers for salvage therapy in testicular germ cell tumors.

• Authors: Milena Urbini, Sara Bleve, Giuseppe Schepisi, Cecilia Menna, Giorgia Gurioli, Caterina Gianni, Ugo De Giorgi
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 24 Issue 23 (Nov 28 2023) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 38069192 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Cisplatin
• Biomarkers

Topics

• Male
• Humans
• Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
• Salvage Therapy
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (drug therapy)
• Transplantation, Autologous
• Testicular Neoplasms (therapy, drug therapy)
• Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal (diagnosis, genetics, therapy)
• Cisplatin (therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers