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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Germinoma causes

Introduction

Overview

Overview

There are no established causes for germinoma. However, several theories have been postulated to define the cause of germ cell tumors. GCTs arise from primordial germ cells that migrate to the germinal ridges in the developing embryo. The process of migration appears to be under the control of complex molecular events. Alteration in any of these molecular pathways may give rise to GCTs. Rather than laterally to genital ridges, some primordial germ cells that have left the yolk sac endoderm migrate aberrantly cranially towards the diencephalic midline structures.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Causes

Causes

There are no established causes for germinoma. However, several theories have been postulated to define the cause of germ cell tumors. GCTs arise from primordial germ cells that migrate to the germinal ridges in the developing embryo. The process of migration appears to be under the control of complex molecular events. Alteration in any of these molecular pathways may give rise to GCTs. Rather than laterally to genital ridges, some primordial germ cells that have left the yolk sac endoderm migrate aberrantly cranially towards the diencephalic midline structures.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Important factors in cell migration include the following:

  • Extracellular matrix
  • Chemotropic factors
  • Tumor growth factor beta 1

Since the maturation of the fetal hypothalamus coincides with the migration of primordial germ cells, the fetal hypothalamus may secrete chemotrophic factors that attract primordial germ cells to the diencephalon.

References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Echevarría ME, Fangusaro J, Goldman S (2008). “Pediatric central nervous system germ cell tumors: a review”. Oncologist. 13 (6): 690–9. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2008-0037. PMID 18586924.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jubran RF, Finlay J (2005). “Central nervous system germ cell tumors: controversies in diagnosis and treatment”. Oncology (Williston Park). 19 (6): 705–11, discussion 711-2, 715–7, 721. PMID 15971448.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Palmer RD, Foster NA, Vowler SL, Roberts I, Thornton CM, Hale JP; et al. (2007). “Malignant germ cell tumours of childhood: new associations of genomic imbalance”. Br J Cancer. 96 (4): 667–76. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6603602. PMC 2360055. PMID 17285132.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sato K, Takeuchi H, Kubota T (2009). “Pathology of intracranial germ cell tumors”. Prog Neurol Surg. 23: 59–75. doi:10.1159/000210053. PMID 19329861.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Pereda J, Motta PM (1991). “A unique fibrillar coat on the surface of migrating human primordial germ cells”. Arch Histol Cytol. 54 (4): 419–25. PMID 1760220.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Godin I, Wylie CC (1991). “TGF beta 1 inhibits proliferation and has a chemotropic effect on mouse primordial germ cells in culture”. Development. 113 (4): 1451–7. PMID 1811953.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Horowitz MB, Hall WA (1991). “Central nervous system germinomas. A review”. Arch Neurol. 48 (6): 652–7. PMID 2039390.


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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Simrat Sarai, M.D. [2]