Talin1 is downregulated in testicular germ cell tumors according to combined bioinformatics and experimental approaches

Talin1 is a focal adhesion protein involved in cell adhesion and migration, with abnormal expression linked to cancer progression. However, its role in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate Talin1 expression in TGCTs using integrated bioinformatics and immunohistochemical approaches. Differentially expressed genes were identified through GEO and proteomics datasets. Venn diagram, Gene Ontology (GO), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses revealed Talin1 as a key gene in cell adhesion and migration pathways. Prognostic relevance was assessed using TCGA and GTEx data. Talin1 expression was further examined via immunohistochemistry on 191 TGCT tissues. Results showed that reduced Talin1 expression was associated with higher pT-stage in seminomas (P = 0.036), embryonal carcinoma (P = 0.021), and teratomas (P = 0.044). It was also significantly linked to venous invasion (P = 0.021) and tunica vaginalis invasion (P = 0.049) in embryonal carcinoma, as well as hilum involvement and the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in yolk sac tumors. These findings suggest that decreased cytoplasmic Talin1 expression correlates with aggressive tumor behavior and disease progression in TGCTs. Talin1 may have potential as a prognostic biomarker in TGCTs, though further functional studies are necessary to elucidate its mechanistic role and therapeutic significance.