Work

Carcinoma‐in‐situ of the testis: possible origin from gonocytes and precursor of all types of germ cell tumours except spermatocytoma

Year: 1987

Type: article

Abstract: Based on evidence from morphological and histochemical studies and from clinical experience, the following hypotheses are proposed: carcinoma-in-situ (CIS) germ cells are malignant gonocytes; these CIS gonocytes have some capacity to regress into more primitive, totipotent embryonic cells which can give rise to all types of nonseminomatous germ cell tumours; the tumour germ cells of classical seminomas are malignant gonocytes derived from CIS gonocytes which have lost their ability to regress into totipotent embryonic cells; the ability of CIS gonocytes to regress into totipotent embryonic cells decreases with age, whereas the capacity to form classical seminoma cells is preserved; the transformation of CIS gonocytes into invasive tumours is dependent on factors such as gonadotrophins and/or testicular steroids; the pathogenesis of classical and spermatocytic seminoma are unrelated. As a consequence of these hypotheses an alternative nomenclature for carcinoma-in-situ, seminoma and dysgerminoma is suggested.

Source: International Journal of Andrology

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.1987.tb00161.x

Authors: N. E. SKAKKEBÆK, J. G. BERTHELSEN, A. GIWERCMAN, J. MÜLLER

Institutions: Hvidovre Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Herlev Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Testicular diseases and treatments

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Kræftens Bekæmpelse