Testicular Cancer Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Health Professional Information [NCI]-General Inform
Testicular Cancer Treatment (PDQ®): Treatment - Health Professional Information [NCI]-General Information About Testicular Cancer
Incidence and Mortality
Estimated new cases and deaths from testicular cancer in the United States in 2014:[1]
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Testicular cancer is a highly treatable, usually curable, cancer that most often develops in young and middle-aged men. Most testicular cancers are germ cell tumors. For treatment planning, germ cell tumors are broadly divided into seminomas and nonseminomas because they have different prognostic and treatment algorithms. For patients with seminoma (all stages combined), the cure rate exceeds 90%. For patients with low-stage seminoma or nonseminoma, the cure rate approaches 100%.[2,3,4,5,6]
Risk Factors
Risk factors for testicular cancer include the following:[7]
Surgical correction of an undescended testis (orchiopexy) before puberty appears to lower the risk of testis cancer, but this isn't certain.[8]
Histopathology
Types of testicular germ cell tumors: Seminomas versus nonseminomas
The five histopathological subtypes of testicular germ cell tumors include:
Tumors that are 100% seminoma are considered seminomas. All other tumors, including those that have a mixture of seminoma and nonseminoma components, are considered and should be managed as nonseminomas. Most nonseminomas consist of a mixture of the different germ-cell tumor subtypes. Tumors that appear to have a seminoma histology but are accompanied by an elevated serum level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) should be treated as nonseminomas because seminomas do not produce AFP.
Prognosis and Staging
Serum tumor markers and testis cancer: AFP, beta-hCG, and LDH
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), and lactase dehydrogenase (LDH) play an important role as serum tumor markers in the staging and monitoring of germ cell tumors and should be measured prior to removing the involved testicle.[9] For patients with nonseminomas, the degree of tumor-marker elevation after the cancerous testicular has been removed is one of the most significant predictors of prognosis.[10] Serum tumor markers are also very useful for monitoring all stages of nonseminomas and for monitoring metastatic seminomas because elevated marker levels are often the earliest sign of relapse.
Estimated new cases and deaths from testicular cancer in the United States in 2014:[1]
Did You Know?
Under the Affordable Care Act, many health insurance plans will cover preventive care services, including checkups, vaccinations and screening tests, at no cost to you. Learn more.
Health Insurance Center
- New cases: 8,820.
- Deaths: 380.
Testicular cancer is a highly treatable, usually curable, cancer that most often develops in young and middle-aged men. Most testicular cancers are germ cell tumors. For treatment planning, germ cell tumors are broadly divided into seminomas and nonseminomas because they have different prognostic and treatment algorithms. For patients with seminoma (all stages combined), the cure rate exceeds 90%. For patients with low-stage seminoma or nonseminoma, the cure rate approaches 100%.[2,3,4,5,6]
Risk Factors
Risk factors for testicular cancer include the following:[7]
- An undescended testis (cryptorchidism).
- A family history of testis cancer (particularly in a father or brother).
- A personal history of testis cancer.
Surgical correction of an undescended testis (orchiopexy) before puberty appears to lower the risk of testis cancer, but this isn't certain.[8]
Histopathology
Types of testicular germ cell tumors: Seminomas versus nonseminomas
The five histopathological subtypes of testicular germ cell tumors include:
- Seminomas.
- Embryonal carcinomas.
- Teratomas.
- Yolk sac tumors.
- Choriocarcinomas.
Tumors that are 100% seminoma are considered seminomas. All other tumors, including those that have a mixture of seminoma and nonseminoma components, are considered and should be managed as nonseminomas. Most nonseminomas consist of a mixture of the different germ-cell tumor subtypes. Tumors that appear to have a seminoma histology but are accompanied by an elevated serum level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) should be treated as nonseminomas because seminomas do not produce AFP.
Prognosis and Staging
Serum tumor markers and testis cancer: AFP, beta-hCG, and LDH
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), and lactase dehydrogenase (LDH) play an important role as serum tumor markers in the staging and monitoring of germ cell tumors and should be measured prior to removing the involved testicle.[9] For patients with nonseminomas, the degree of tumor-marker elevation after the cancerous testicular has been removed is one of the most significant predictors of prognosis.[10] Serum tumor markers are also very useful for monitoring all stages of nonseminomas and for monitoring metastatic seminomas because elevated marker levels are often the earliest sign of relapse.
