Linkage between androgen receptor gene CAG trinucleotide repeat length and testicular germ cell cancer histological type and clinical stage

Sex hormones and/or gonadotropins may play a crucial role in the development of testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC). A direct link between this malignancy and endocrine factors has not been confirmed. We tested whether CAG and GGN repeats of the androgen receptor gene (AR) play a role in the aetiology or pathogenesis of TGCC. Eighty-three TGCC patients and 220 controls were included. Mean CA G or GGN lengths did not differ between the TGCC cases and controls. The proportion of males with CAG among patients with pure seminomas and in the lengths above 25, indicative of reduced androgen sensitivity, was significantly lower a combined group of seminomas and mixed tumours compared with non-seminomas and controls. The median CAG length was higher if the tumour was metastasing at diagnosis. This is the first study showing an association between the AR polymorphism and histological type as well as the progression rate of TGCC. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.