Gene expression of pediatric germ cell tumors using NanoString PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel

The present study aimed to explore the immune landscape of pediatric germ cell tumors to uncover subtype-specific immunological features and identify potential immunotherapeutic targets. We included 21 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples obtained from pediatric patients diagnosed with germ cell tumors (GCTs) at Barretos Cancer Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil. The cohort comprised 17 tumor samples: disgerminoma (n=6), yolk sac tumor (n=5), embryonal carcinoma (n=3), and mixed central nervous system tumors (n=3), as well as four non-tumoral samples derived from adjacent normal tissues (two ovarian and two testicular). All tumors were chemo-naïve and reviewed by an experienced pediatric pathologist. Gene expression assays were performed in the nCounter® FLEX Analysis System, using the PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel (NanoString Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA).