Application of miRNAs in the diagnosis and monitoring of testicular germ cell tumours

Kristian Almstrup*, João Lobo, Nina Mørup, Gazanfer Belge, Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts, Leendert H.J. Looijenga, Klaus Peter Dieckmann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

73 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) are the most frequent cancer type in young men and originate from the common precursor germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS). For decades, clinical management of patients with TGCT has relied on classic serum tumour markers: α-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin subunit-β and lactate dehydrogenase. In the past 10 years, microRNAs have been shown to outperform classic serum tumour markers in the diagnosis of primary tumours and in follow-up monitoring and prediction of relapse. miR-371a-3p is the most consistent marker and exhibits >90% diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in TGCT. However, miR-371a-3p cannot be used to diagnose GCNIS or mature teratoma. Future efforts must technically standardize the microRNA-based methods internationally and introduce miR-371a-3p as a molecular liquid biopsy-based marker for TGCTs in the clinic.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNature Reviews Urology
Volume17
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)201-213
Number of pages13
ISSN1759-4812
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2020
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors receive funding from Innovation Fund Denmark and the Børnecancerfonden (grant numbers 14-2013-4 and 2016-0304 to K.A., N.M. and E.R.-De M.); ReproUnion and the Svend Andersen Foundation (no grant numbers, to K.A. and N.M.); FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia; grant numbers POCI-01-0145-FEDER-29043 and SFRH/ BD/132751/2017 to J.L.); and Deutsche Krebshilfe (grant number 70113186 to G.B. and K.-P.D.).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer Nature Limited.

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