Figure 3.

The proposed “microRNA switch” occurring in testicular germ cell tumors related to differentiation. MicroRNAs of the 371–373 cluster are upregulated in malignant subtypes (here represented by a seminoma histology) and target p53 (there are hardly any TP53 mutations in these tumors). The response to cisplatin is a proapoptotic response. In differentiated mature teratoma, on the contrary, this cluster is negative, and miR-885-5p is upregulated. The latter is a p53 activator. The response to cisplatin is directed towards cell cycle arrest, hence the clinical cisplatin resistance.