Management of Germ Cell Tumors in Pediatric Patients

Germ cell tumors arise from primordial germ cells. Most develop in the gonads or along midline structures of the body. Genetic aberrations leading to disruption in the molecular signaling responsible for primordial germ cell migration early in development may provide rationale for why germ cell tumors originate in extragonadal locations. Establishing best practices for treating pediatric germ cell tumors remains an area of active investigation. Recent advances focused on limiting toxicities of therapy, identifying new therapies for relapsed and refractory tumors, defining best practices for surgical staging and resection, and developing novel methods to monitor for disease relapse.