Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are predominant in young males (15–44 years). Seminomatous and non-seminomatous TGCTs account for about 98% of all TGCTs cases. In this study, we aimed to compare the sperm proteome of patients with seminomatous and non-seminomatous TGCTs to identify possible protein biomarkers that could help distinguish between them in a non-invasive manner. We analyzed semen samples from patients with seminomatous or non-seminomatous TGCTs (n = 15/group) that were cryopreserved before the start of cancer treatment. Quantitative proteomic analysis was conducted on pooled samples (n = 3/group) and a total of 258 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified. The overexpression of acrosin precursor (ACR) and chaperonin containing TCP1 subunit 6B (CCT6B) as well as the underexpression of S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9) in the spermatozoa of patients with non-seminomatous TGCTs were validated by western blotting conducted on individual samples (n = 6 for seminomatous group and n = 6 for non-seminomatous group). Our overall results suggest an association between the higher and faster invasiveness of non-seminomatous TGCTs and the altered protein expressions, providing important information for future studies.
Highlights
Testicular germ cells tumors (TGCTs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms occurring in the male germ cells [1,2]
Semen Parameters Were Similar between Patients with Seminomatous and Non-Seminomatous TGCTs
The decline in male reproductive health over the last decades is evidenced by the decreasing male fertility rates [25]
Summary
Testicular germ cells tumors (TGCTs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms occurring in the male germ cells [1,2]. TGCTs are a rare type of tumor among men, they represent a major threat to male fertility. The main types of TGCTs are classified as seminomatous and non-seminomatous, which represent up to 98% of all TGCTs cases, while the remaining refer to spermatocytic tumors [4]. The prevalence of seminomatous and non-seminomatous TGCTs is similar, but some patients (15%) can present both types [5]. Non-seminomatous TGCTs are considered more aggressive than seminomatous TGCTs because they grow and spread faster, and are less sensitive to radiation treatment [6]. There are four sub-types of non-seminomatous TGCTs: embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, yolk sac tumor, and choriocarcinoma, which commonly occur in combination [7]
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