Given the preclinical evidence implicating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling in the biology of germ cell tumors, we hypothesized that the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitor sunitinib (Sutent) may possess important clinical activity in the treatment of this refractory disease.
These findings suggest that VEGF may act in a paracrine manner to induce neovascularization, oedema extravasation and cyst formation in human germ cell tumors.