Germ Cell Tumors

We revealed unique molecular pathways in TGCT samples with cryptorchidism history and identified tumor-related features in cryptorchidism accumulation. Cryptorchidism history significantly remodels the immune microenvironment of TGCT.

P1/2, N=90, Recruiting, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Active, not recruiting --> Recruiting | N=46 --> 90

These findings contribute to the literature suggesting that, rarely, GPV in aoCPG may contribute to cancer diagnoses in children, raising the question of how tumors in these cases may present differently in children than adults. Increased knowledge about potential childhood cancer risks related to what have historically been considered aoCPG could modify predictive genetic testing recommendations for children and enhance existing cancer screening protocols.

Key clinical translations include ERV-based stratification models predicting immune checkpoint inhibitor response in metastatic RCC, HERV-E-targeted adoptive T cell therapies, and noncoding RNA biomarkers for early bladder cancer detection. We further discuss unresolved mechanistic paradoxes such as contradictory prognostic associations between HERV superfamily expression and PBRM1 inactivation in RCC, concluding with priorities for future research: validating HERV-derived neoantigens in immunotherapy platforms, optimizing epigenetic priming strategies to enhance viral mimicry effects, and establishing standardized HERV signatures as clinical biomarkers through multi-institutional cohorts.

These findings indicate that malignant ovarian germ cell tumor subtypes harbor distinct tumor microenvironments, with dysgerminoma characterized by abundant but potentially ineffective T-cell responses owing to absent major histocompatibility complex class I-mediated antigen presentation. Therapeutic strategies restoring major histocompatibility complex class I expression may enhance T cell-based immunotherapy efficacy in dysgerminomas.

Management includes surgical excision with or without adjuvant therapy. Recognition of these unique neoplasms can aid in refining the classification scheme for such uncommon vulvar tumors.

The results revealed a malignant transformation of the teratoma, with the presence of a poorly differentiated, invasive melanoma (Vim+, Melan-A+, S100-, and CD117-), accompanied by numerous melanophages (IBA1+) in the surrounding tissue and inguinal lymph nodes, and a concomitant metastatic carcinoma (PCK+), which was identified in the iliac lymph node of undetermined origin. To the best of our knowledge, there are no documented cases of testicular teratomas with these characteristics in wild species of the Cervidae family or in other animal species.

P2, N=2, Active, not recruiting, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center | Recruiting --> Active, not recruiting | N=18 --> 2 | Trial completion date: Aug 2030 --> Dec 2030 | Trial primary completion date: Sep 2026 --> Dec 2025

P1, N=72, Active, not recruiting, HiFiBiO Therapeutics | Recruiting --> Active, not recruiting | N=170 --> 72

P1, N=44, Active, not recruiting, Seattle Children's Hospital | Recruiting --> Active, not recruiting | Trial primary completion date: Jun 2025 --> Jun 2040

In addition, we found that NR6A1 can affect mTOR signaling, suggesting a broader role in tumor metabolism regulation. In summary, our data indicate that NR6A1 plays an oncogenic role by reprogramming glycolysis via the miR-302a/HK1 axis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lastly, PFAS exposure altered the activity of PPARs, in TGCT cells, with the most prominent effects being antagonist activity toward PPARγ. These data support that PFAS may act as fatty acid mimics to modulate fatty acid metabolic and steroidogenic endocrine outcome leading to pro-cancer phenotypes in TGCTs.