Scientists hail testicular cancer breakthrough

By using human testicular tissue grafted into mice, they have been able to study the development of the cells which can cause cancer.

Testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC) is the most common cancer among men aged between 15 and 44 and more men are being affected.

However, testicular cancer is still relatively rare, with about 2,000 cases in the UK each year among all age groups.

Experts already know that testicular cancer originates from the abnormal development of germ cells – cells that go on to become sex cells – in foetuses. However, how and why this happens has been impossible to explore until now.

Researchers, writing in the journal Human Reproduction, reveal how they found a way to investigate how human testes develop before birth.

Professor Stephen Holgate, from the MRC, said: "Understanding how we develop, even before birth, and how this relates to disease in later life is crucial to improve our long term health."