Meta-analysis of five genome-wide association studies identifies multiple new loci associated with testicular germ cell tumor

Nat Genet. 2017 Jul;49(7):1141-1147. doi: 10.1038/ng.3879. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

Abstract

The international Testicular Cancer Consortium (TECAC) combined five published genome-wide association studies of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT; 3,558 cases and 13,970 controls) to identify new susceptibility loci. We conducted a fixed-effects meta-analysis, including, to our knowledge, the first analysis of the X chromosome. Eight new loci mapping to 2q14.2, 3q26.2, 4q35.2, 7q36.3, 10q26.13, 15q21.3, 15q22.31, and Xq28 achieved genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-8). Most loci harbor biologically plausible candidate genes. We refined previously reported associations at 9p24.3 and 19p12 by identifying one and three additional independent SNPs, respectively. In aggregate, the 39 independent markers identified to date explain 37% of father-to-son familial risk, 8% of which can be attributed to the 12 new signals reported here. Our findings substantially increase the number of known TGCT susceptibility alleles, move the field closer to a comprehensive understanding of the underlying genetic architecture of TGCT, and provide further clues to the etiology of TGCT.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Human, X / genetics
  • Computational Biology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Family Health
  • Genetic Markers
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genome-Wide Association Study*
  • Genotype
  • Haplotypes / genetics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Risk
  • Testicular Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Genetic Markers

Supplementary concepts

  • Testicular Germ Cell Tumor