title: Age-related biological features of germ cell tumors.
abstract: Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare but clinically and pathologically diverse tumors that occur in an extensive range of age groups, from children to older adults and which include both seminomatous and nonseminomatous tumors. Current clinical management for both male and female teenagers and young adults (TYAs) with GCTs remains inconsistent, alternating between pediatric and adult multidisciplinary oncology teams, based on locally defined age cutoffs. Therefore, we reviewed available literature to determine the biological similarities and differences between GCTs in young children (0-12 years), TYAs (13-24 years), and older adults (>24 years). GCTs arising in pediatric and adult populations in general showed marked molecular biological differences within identical histological subtypes, whereas there was a distinct paucity of available data for GCTs in the TYA population. These findings highlight that clinical management based simply on chronological age may be inappropriate for TYA and suggests that the optimal future management of GCTs should consider specific molecular biological factors in addition to clinical parameters in the context of patient-specific age group rather than medical specialty.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, St. James University Hospital, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK.
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Collinson
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Murray
authors: Nicolas M
authors: NM
authors: Orsi
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Cummings
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Shipley
authors: Johnathan K
authors: JK
authors: Joffe
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Coleman
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Stark
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D056426:Genetic Loci; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger