RANKL regulates testicular cancer growth and Denosumab has tumor suppressive effects in GCNIS and advanced seminoma
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ABSTRACT: Testicular germ cells tumors (TGCTs) have a high sensitivity to cisplatin-based chemotherapy and a high cure rate, although with possible serious adverse effects. In the search for tumor suppressive drugs, the RANKL inhibitor Denosumab, used to treat osteoporosis came up as a candidate since RANKL signaling was recently identified in the testis. RANKL signals through the receptor RANK and this signaling is antagonized by the decoy receptor OPG. Here, we demonstrate expression of RANKL, RANK, and OPG in germ cell neoplasia in situ (GCNIS), TGCTs, and TGCT-derived cell lines. RANKL inhibition reduced proliferation of seminoma-derived TCam-2 cells but had no effect on embryonal carcinoma-derived NTera2 cells in vitro. Denosumab did not potentiate the effect of cisplatin treatment in vitro but inhibition of RANKL in vivo resulted in reduced tumor growth in a TCam-2 but not a NTera2 xenograft model. Moreover, Denosumab treatment decreased proliferation in human testicular GCNIS tissue culture in vitro. In TGCT patients, serum RANKL was not linked with tumor burden, relapse, or other prognostic markers. In conclusion, this study shows that the RANKL signaling system is expressed in GCNIS and seminoma where RANKL inhibition suppress tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Future studies are needed to determine whether RANKL is important for the malignant transformation and the transition from GCNIS to invasive tumors.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE197389 | GEO | 2022/04/19
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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