Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches to CNS Germ Cell Tumors

The field of oncology highlights that the central nervous system (CNS) is a prominent site for extragonadal germ cell tumors. These primarily manifest in adolescents and young adults, predominantly affecting midline structures such as the sellar region and pineal gland, with occasional occurrences in areas like the basal ganglia. Histologically, germinomas - akin to seminomas in the testes and dysgerminomas in the ovaries—are the most prevalent type. These tumors exhibit an impressive responsiveness to chemo- and radiotherapy and promise a favorable prognosis. Recent advancements in understanding these tumors offer insights into their somatic mutations, often involving the KIT/RAS and, to a limited degree, the mTOR/AKT signaling pathways. Such findings underscore the evolution of neuroimaging and biomarker analysis for effective diagnosis and relapse surveillance.

This Research Topic aims to unravel the main objectives of enhancing diagnostic precision, tailoring therapeutic strategies to optimize outcomes without long-term toxicities, and exploring the molecular underpinnings of CNS germ cell tumors. Pertinent questions include how to enhance disease detection and diagnosis via circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and the development of targeted treatments. The hypotheses involve identifying new biomarkers that could lead to more individualized treatment approaches and potentially discover novel therapeutic approaches.

To gather further insights into CNS germ cell tumor management, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- The development of advanced imaging techniques for early diagnosis.
- Molecular and genetic profiling of germinomas and non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs).
- Innovative treatment protocols beyond traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
- The role of surgical interventions in the management of NGGCTs.
- The impact of CNS germ cell tumor clinical management on patient quality of life.


Please note that manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases that are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of the scope of this Research Topic.