Gene activity in testicular cancer
Background
The mechanism of testicular cancer development is largely unknown, but changes in DNA via methylation probably play an important role. It is known that Cisplatin leads to altered DNA methylation - this may explain why the treatment increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
The aim of the study is to investigate the significance of DNA methylation for the development of testicular cancer and for developing late effects after chemotherapy. 
Changes in DNA should be examined in blood samples from testicular cancer patients before diagnosis and from people who do not have testicular cancer. DNA methylation will be compared in the two groups. In another group of testicular cancer patients, some of whom have developed metabolic syndrome, we want to see whether cisplatin has led to changes in DNA methylation, and whether the changes in this case are related to the development of metabolic syndrome.
Purpose
The results may make it possible to find biomarkers for early diagnosis of testicular cancer. Moreover, they can help to detect the risk of developing late effects as a result of cisplatin - in order to initiate preventive measures as early as possible.
Find
A recently published study from the project shows that there are more areas of DNA irregularities among men treated for testicular cancer, compared to men who have not undergone such treatment. The areas that were particularly susceptible to changes were precisely the same areas that are related to the development of metabolic syndrome. Read more about the study here.
In the media
"Healthy, but maybe not quite?" - Dagbladet, 9 December 2019
Publications
Cisplatin treatment of testicular cancer patients introduces long-term changes in the epigenome
Clin Epigenetics, 11 (1), 179
doi 10.1186/s13148-019-0764-4, PubMed 31796056
Read more about the Cancer Registry's research on cancer biomarkers Read more about the Cancer Registry's research on cancer biomarkers here.
