Tumor Risk in Disorders of Sex Development

Certain patients with disorders of sex development (DSD), who bear Y chromosome material in their karyotype, are at increased risk for the development of type II germ cell tumors (GCT), which arise from early fetal germ cells. DSD gonads frequently harbor immature germ cells which express early fetal germ cell markers. Some of them (e.g. OCT3/4 and NANOG) seem to be of pathogenetic relevance in GCT development providing cells with the ability of pluripotency,proliferation and apoptosis suppression. Also TSPY (testisspecific protein Y-encoded), the main candidate for the socalled gonadoblastoma locus on Y chromosome, is overexpressed in germ cells of DSD patients and possibly contributes to their survival and proliferation. Nowadays, the use of immunohistochemical methods is highly relevant in identifying DSD gonads at risk. The risk for GCT development varies. While the prevalence of GCT is 15% in patients with partial androgen insensitivity, it may reach more than 30% in patients with gonadal dysgenesis. Patients with complete androgen insensitivity and ovotesticular DSD develop ma lignancies in 0.8% and 2.6% of cases, respectively. However,these data may be biased for various reasons. To better estimate the risk in individual groups of DSD, further investigations on large patient series are needed

Gonadal pathology and tumor risk in relation to clinical characteristics in patients with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism

Context: Gonadectomy is avoided whenever possible in boys with 45,X/46,XY. However, no clinical markers are currently available to guide clinicians in predicting gonadal tumor risk or hormone production. Objective: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that gonadal histology and risk for development of a malignant germ cell tumor are reflected by the clinical presentation of a 45, X/46, XY individual. Design: The design of the study was the correlation of clinical data [external masculinization score (EMS), pubertal outcome] with pathology data (gonadal phenotype, tumor risk). Setting: This was a multicenter study involving two multidisciplinary disorder of sex development teams. Patients: Patients included genetically proven 45, X/46, XY (and variants) cases, of whom at least one gonadal biopsy or gonadectomy specimen was available, together with clinical details. Interventions: Patients (n = 48) were divided into three groups, based on the EMS. Gonadal histology and tumor risk were assessed on paraffin-embedded samples (n = 87) by morphology and immunohistochemistry on the basis of established criteria. Main Outcome Measures: Gonadal differentiation and tumor risk in the three clinical groups were measured. Clinical outcome in patients with at least one preserved gonad was also measured. Results: Tumor risk in the three groups was significantly related to the gonadal differentiation pattern (P < 0.001). In boys, hormone production was sufficient and was not predicted by the EMS. Conclusions: The EMS reflects gonadal differentiation and tumor risk in patients with 45, X/46, XY. In boys, testosterone production is often sufficient, but strict follow-up is warranted because of malignancy risk, which appears inversely related to EMS. In girls, tumor risk is limited but gonads are not functional, making gonadectomy the most reasonable option

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome: factors influencing gonadal histology including germ cell pathology

Patients with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome are at an increased risk for the development of gonadal germ cell cancer. Residual androgen receptor (AR) activity and abnormal gonadal location may influence the survival of atypical germ cells and the development of other histopathological features. To assess this, we evaluated 37 gonads from 19 patients with complete androgen insensitivity (ranging in age from 3 months to 18 years). Histological abnormalities were examined using hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections and sections stained for POU5F1 and KITLG, markers of early changes in germ cells at risk for malignant transformation. Hamartomatous nodules (HNs), Leydig cell hyperplasia (LCH), decreased germ cells, tubular atrophy and stromal fibrosis were more pronounced as age increased (P<0.001). Expected residual AR activity acted as a positive predictor only for non-malignant germ cell survival in (post)pubertal patients (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical studies indicated that delayed maturation of germ cells was present in three patients, whereas intermediate changes that occurred between delayed maturation and intratubular germ cell neoplasia, designated pre-intratubular germ cell neoplasia, were identified in four cases. Intratubular germ cell neoplasia was observed in one patient. Neither POU5F1 nor KITLG expression was dependent on expected residual AR activity. An independent effect of inguinal versus abdominal position of the gonads was difficult to assess because inguinal gonads were present primarily in the youngest individuals. In conclusion, many histological changes occur increasingly with age. Expected residual AR activity contributes to better survival of the general germ cell population in (post)pubertal age; however, it did not seem to have an important role in the survival of the germ cells at risk for malignant transformation (defined by POU5F1 positivity and KITLG overexpression) in complete androgen insensitivity. Comparison of the high percentage of patients in our study that were carrying germ cells with delayed maturation or pre-intratubular germ cell neoplasia with previously reported cumulative risk of tumor development in adult patients indicates that not all such precursor lesions in complete androgen insensitivity will progress to invasive germ cell cancer

Gonadal pathology and tumor risk in relation to clinical characteristics in patients with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism

Context: Gonadectomy is avoided whenever possible in boys with 45,X/46,XY. However, no clinical markers are currently available to guide clinicians in predicting gonadal tumor risk or hormone production. Objective: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that gonadal histology and risk for development of a malignant germ cell tumor are reflected by the clinical presentation of a 45, X/46, XY individual. Design: The design of the study was the correlation of clinical data [external masculinization score (EMS), pubertal outcome] with pathology data (gonadal phenotype, tumor risk). Setting: This was a multicenter study involving two multidisciplinary disorder of sex development teams. Patients: Patients included genetically proven 45, X/46, XY (and variants) cases, of whom at least one gonadal biopsy or gonadectomy specimen was available, together with clinical details. Interventions: Patients (n = 48) were divided into three groups, based on the EMS. Gonadal histology and tumor risk were assessed on paraffin-embedded samples (n = 87) by morphology and immunohistochemistry on the basis of established criteria. Main Outcome Measures: Gonadal differentiation and tumor risk in the three clinical groups were measured. Clinical outcome in patients with at least one preserved gonad was also measured. Results: Tumor risk in the three groups was significantly related to the gonadal differentiation pattern (P < 0.001). In boys, hormone production was sufficient and was not predicted by the EMS. Conclusions: The EMS reflects gonadal differentiation and tumor risk in patients with 45, X/46, XY. In boys, testosterone production is often sufficient, but strict follow-up is warranted because of malignancy risk, which appears inversely related to EMS. In girls, tumor risk is limited but gonads are not functional, making gonadectomy the most reasonable option