TERATOMA WITH MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION: DIVERSE MALIGNANT HISTOLOGIES ARISING IN MEN WITH GERM CELL TUMORS

A variety of nongerm cell histologies, including sarcoma, adenocarcinoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumor and leukemia, may occur in association with germ cell tumor. Chromosomal abnormalities in these tumors include i (12p), reflecting germ cell tumor clonality, as well as chromosomal abnormalities associated with the transformed histology. These tumors do not respond like germ cell tumor to cisplatin-containing chemotherapy regimens. Treatment should be tailored according to that used in standard management of the transformed histology, and surgical resection is the mainstay of therapy.