Scientists discover key genetic factors behind testicular cancer

· News-Medical

Among the key findings are:

  1. New potential cancer drivers in testicular cancer, including drivers specific to certain subtypes, which may help stratify patients based on their tumor characteristics
  2. A reconstruction of evolutionary trajectories of genome alterations and probable progression pathways in TGCT
  3. Discovery of a broader range of mutational signatures associated with TGCT. These are distinctive patterns of DNA damage, which can reflect various carcinogenic exposures (e.g. smoking, UV light) and enable a retrospective look at exposure-related cancer risk
  4. Previously unidentified recurrent mutational hotspots in testicular cancer
  5. Identification of a genomic immune mechanism unique to TGCT, predominantly in seminomas, the most common tumor subtype.

To further enhance understanding of the disease, the researchers now hope to involve more participants to include a wider diversity of outcomes, ethnicities, and types of testicular cancers.

Source:

Trinity College Dublin

Journal reference: