Zebrafish germ cell tumors

Angelica Sanchez, James F. Amatruda

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are malignant cancers that arise from embryonic precursors known as Primordial Germ Cells. GCTs occur in neonates, children, adolescents and young adults and can occur in the testis, the ovary or extragonadal sites. Because GCTs arise from pluripotent cells, the tumors can exhibit a wide range of different histologies. Current cisplatin-based combination therapies cures most patients, however at the cost of significant toxicity to normal tissues. While GWAS studies and genomic analysis of human GCTs have uncovered somatic mutations and loci that might confer tumor susceptibility, little is still known about the exact mechanisms that drive tumor development, and animal models that faithfully recapitulate all the different GCT subtypes are lacking. Here, we summarize current understanding of germline development in humans and zebrafish, describe the biology of human germ cell tumors, and discuss progress and prospects for zebrafish GCT models that may contribute to better understanding of human GCTs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdvances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
PublisherSpringer New York LLC
Pages479-494
Number of pages16
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

Publication series

NameAdvances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
Volume916
ISSN (Print)0065-2598
ISSN (Electronic)2214-8019

Keywords

  • Germ cell tumor
  • Non-seminoma
  • Primordial germ cell
  • Seminoma
  • Zebrafish

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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