Identification of known and novel germ cell cancer specific (embryonic) miRs in serum by high throughput profiling

Very recently, a number of independent studies showed that serum levels of embryonic micro-RNA (miR) clusters 371-3 and 302abc/367 are predictive for the presence of testicular type II germ cell tumors. These miRs could be used to sensitively detect SE and EC components which are indeed known to express these miRs [1-7]. This study investigates ca 750 miRs in a high throughput approach to validate these previously identified markers and identify novel potential miR markers for testicular type II germ cell tumors. 1. Belge, G., et al., Serum levels of microRNAs miR-371-3: a novel class of serum biomarkers for testicular germ cell tumors? Eur Urol, 2012. 61(5): p. 1068-9. 2. Dieckmann, K.P., et al., MicroRNAs miR-371-3 in serum as diagnostic tools in the management of testicular germ cell tumours. Br J Cancer, 2012. 107(10): p. 1754-60. 3. Gillis, A.J., et al., Targeted serum miRNA (TSmiR) test for diagnosis and follow-up of (testicular) germ cell cancer patients: a proof of principle. Mol Oncol, 2013. 7(6): p. 1083-92. 4. Gillis, A.J., et al., High-throughput microRNAome analysis in human germ cell tumours. J Pathol, 2007. 213(3): p. 319-28. 5. Murray, M.J. and N. Coleman, Testicular cancer: a new generation of biomarkers for malignant germ cell tumours. Nat Rev Urol, 2012. 9(6): p. 298-300. 6. Murray, M.J., et al., Identification of microRNAs From the miR-371~373 and miR-302 clusters as potential serum biomarkers of malignant germ cell tumors. Am J Clin Pathol, 2011. 135(1): p. 119-25. 7. Voorhoeve, P.M., et al., A genetic screen implicates miRNA-372 and miRNA-373 as oncogenes in testicular germ cell tumors. Cell, 2006. 124(6): p. 1169-81. 35 serum samples were profiled for ca. 750 micro RNAs. These consisted of serum from 10 patients with non-seminomas (2 YS, 2 TE, 2 EC and 4 mixed NS which all contained EC) and 14 SE cases. Controls (C) consisted of serum from 3 individuals with normal testis tissue showing adequate spermatogenesis (Johnson Score 8-10) and serum from 8 patients with non-GCT testicular masses. These contained on epidermoid cyst, three epidermis cysts, one low grade liposarcoma, two neuro-endocrine tumors and a case of paratesticular hemorrhage.