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The exact cause of most testicular cancers is not known. But scientists have found that the disease is linked with a number of other conditions.  Researchers are learning how changes in DNA can cause normal cells to become cancer. This may lead to finding better ways to prevent and treat testicular cancer.

How gene changes (mutations) can lead to cancer

DNA is the chemical in each of our cells that makes up our genes. Genes control how our cells function. Changes (mutations) in the DNA inside our cells can sometimes change the way some genes work, which can promote cancer growth.

Some genes control when our cells grow, divide into new cells, and die:

• Genes that help cells grow, divide, or stay alive can lose the ability to turn off and are called oncogenes.
• Genes that tell cells to stop dividing or cause cells to die at the right time are called tumor suppressor genes.
• DNA repair genes find and fix DNA damage that happens during cell growth or from the environment.

To learn more, see Oncogenes, Tumor Suppressor Genes, and DNA Repair Genes.

Common gene changes in testicular cancer

Most testicular cancer cells have extra copies of a part of chromosome 12 (called isochromosome 12p or i12p). Some testicular cancers have changes in other chromosomes as well, or even abnormal numbers of chromosomes (often too many). Scientists are studying these DNA and chromosome changes to learn more about which genes are affected and how this might lead to testicular cancer.