German Cancer Aid Foundation funds research consortium on therapy-resistant testicular cancer
Testicular cancer originates in one or both testicles, the male reproductive glands responsible for producing sperm and testosterone. Testicular cancer frequently manifests at an early age and is the most prevalent cancer among males aged 15 to 35. While the tumor is typically amenable to treatment, approximately one in five patients will experience a relapse and become resistant to therapy. The majority of these patients suffer from a rare and malignant type of germ cell tumor, known as the yolk sac tumor. These tumors are known for their rapid growth and potential for metastasis, underscoring the importance of early detection and treatment.
Standard treatment for testicular cancer typically involves surgery followed by chemotherapy, resulting in high cure rates for most patients. However, yolk sac tumors are often resistant to these treatments and contribute significantly to the mortality rate of testicular cancer patients. The biological characteristics of these tumors are not fully understood as well as their aggressive nature and resistance to standard therapies, further research is urgently needed.
To promote the research into this type of testicular cancer and the development of more effective treatment strategies the German Cancer Aid Foundation is supporting a collaborative project of as part of the "Translational Oncology" funding priority program.
Prof. Axel Heidenreich – Director of the Department of Urology, Uro-oncology, Robotic and Special Urological Surgery at the University Hospital of Cologne and associated Principal Investigator at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne at the University of Cologne - and his research team are investigating seminomas, which are germ cell tumors of the testicles like the yolk sac tumors. This research is funded by the German Cancer Aid with 700.000 euros.
Although seminomas and yolk sac tumors are both germ cell tumors of the testis, they are separate entities with different clinical behavior, response to treatment and prognosis. Understanding these differences is critical to the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of testicular cancer.
The standard treatment for testicular cancer typically involves surgery followed by chemotherapy, leading to high cure rates for most patients. However, yolk sac tumors often exhibit resistance to these treatments, contributing significantly to mortality rates among testicular cancer patients. The biological characteristics of these tumors are not yet fully understood, necessitating further research.
Axel Heidenreich describes the research question: "Early recurrences of seminomas after chemotherapy are rare and, in contrast to other germ cell tumors, have an extremely poor prognosis. In a preliminary study, we were able to show that the overall survival of early recurrent seminomas is about 25 percent lower than that of late recurrent seminomas. Occult parts of a yolk sac tumor may be responsible for this development due to their high biological aggressiveness. Until now, it has not been possible to identify these parts with certainty. However, in our collaborative group we have developed a specific marker for the yolk sac tumor.”
The development of a specific marker for yolk sac tumors by the Heidenreich´s research team represents a significant advancement in the field.
Yolk sac tumors consist of several subtypes, each differ in aggressiveness and response to therapy. Accurate identification of these subtypes is crucial for predicting a patient's response to specific drugs/treatments. To support this, the research consortium is developing an atlas that details the characteristics and resistance mechanisms of each yolk sac tumor subtype. This resource aims to facilitate the development of personalized therapies for patients.
The joint scientific project to study yolk sac tumors is funded by the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe) under the "Translational Oncology" funding priority program. In addition to the University Hospitals Cologne, the University Hospitals of Düsseldorf, Göttingen, and Hamburg-Eppendorf are involved. The project is led by the University Hospital Düsseldorf.
The CMMC News is a modified version on the news (in German) provided by the Press & Communications Team of the University Hospital Cologne and is available for download here.