Reviews of Chromosome Studies in Urological Tumors. III. Cytogenetics and Genes in Testicular Tumors

Abstract

The genetic events leading to genesis of testicular germ cell tumors in men appear to be related to aneuploidization followed by the formation of an i(12p) isochromosome, the latter characterizing the preponderant number of testicular germ cell tumors. The exact role of the i(12p) isochromosome in testicular germ cell tumor pathogenesis remains to be determined, as is true of the genes involved in or affected by these tumors. Based on presently available information, a hypothetical pathogenetic and oncogenetic model for the development of testicular germ cell tumors is presented.