Professor Yang Jiaxin’s team from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at PUMCH conducted an in-depth and systematic research on malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary in adolescents. The results were published on Nature Communications, a sub-journal of Nature. It is the first reported research that revealed the genomic landscape and evolutionary features of ovarian yolk sac tumors by reporting cases of yolk sac tumor patients with gonadal dysgenesis and identifying the chemoresistance loci. This article also lays a crucial foundation for advancing the precision treatment, reducing the recurrence rate, and improving the remission rate of yolk sac tumors.

Professor Yang Jiaxin suggested that particular attention should be paid to adolescent patients with ovarian mass and ascites. If their alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level is high, we should consider the possibility of yolk sac tumors. In such cases, it is recommended to choose the appropriate surgical method, in term of salpingo-oopherectomy, to prevent tumor spillage and metastasis. Professor Shen Keng and his team members provided prior chemotherapy for patients with advanced or stage IV yolk sac tumors and helped 80% of them get completely recovered. Professor Shen Keng and Professor Yang Jiaxin are committed to diagnosis and treatment of yolk sac tumors at special sites (endodermal sinus tumors of the vagina in young girls) and took the lead in conducting the diagnosis and standardized treatment process of yolk sac tumors of the vagina in young girls.

The latest research outcome of yolk sac tumor was published on the Nature sub-journal

Research design

A young girl with recurrent malignant germ cell tumor achieved complete remission after management by Dr. Shen Keng (middle) and Dr. Yang Jiaxin (left) from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at PUMCH. 20 years later, she returned to PUMCH and took a group photo with those two doctors during the visit.

Reporter: Fu Tanping

Picture: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Translator: Liu Haiyan

Editor: Yang Jie and Wang Yao