Advances in cell therapy for testicular cancer: a comprehensive overview of immunotherapy and stem cell therapy.

Abstract

Testicular Cancer is the most common type of cancer in teenage and young adult men. Most cases correspond to testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). Testicular cancer treatment must be customized to minimize long-term side effects, protect quality of life, and increase cure rates. Developing new ways to treat testicular cancer is crucial if we want to reduce the side effects of current treatments and maximize their effectiveness. Opportunities to investigate the efficacy of immunotherapeutic drugs, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), in various types of cancers, including germ cell tumors (GCTs), have arisen due to recent advancements. Immunotherapy is a hotspot for research in the fight against metastatic or cisplatin-resistant testicular cancer, a disease that has so far defied conventional medicine. Thus, new avenues for treating TGCT patients have emerged with the introduction of immunotherapy. Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are a group of genes that are exclusively expressed in cancer cells and specific germline cells. Much work is being done with CTAs to develop tumor vaccines and T-cell treatments. It has been successful in treating people with germ-cell tumors that have returned or are not responding to treatment with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplants. Stem cell therapy also offers exciting new approaches to treating testicular cancer, including the potential to target cancer cells, enhance fertility, regulate hormone function, and alleviate the side effects of long-term treatment. This study examined the role of immunotherapy, including T cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages, in treating testicular cancer. We've also discussed how stem cells and their offspring, such as extracellular vesicles, can be used to treat testicular cancer.