Incidence Rates Of Testicular Cancer Research Articles

Malignant ovarian and testicular germ cell tumors: Common characteristics but different prognoses.

Both ovarian and testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) arise from the primordial germ cell and share many similarities. Both malignancies affect mainly young patients, show remarkable responsiveness to cisplatin-based therapy, and have an excellent prognosis, which also highlights the importance of minimizing long-term side effects. However, certain differences can be noted: The spreading of the disease differs, and the staging system and treatment recommendations are dissimilar. Moreover, the prognosis for ovarian GCTs is significantly inferior to that for testicular cancer, as exemplified in this review comparing the survival in Swedish patients diagnosed with testicular (1995-2022) and ovarian (1990-2018) GCTs. The 5-year overall survival in ovarian GCTs was 85.2%, versus 98.2% for testicular GCTs. How can this be explained? One reason may be the difference in knowledge, experience, and evidence because the incidence rate of testicular cancer is more than 15 times that of ovarian GCTs. Given the rarity of the disease in women and the lack of established guidelines, a comprehensive understanding of the disease and treatment decisions is challenging. The main objective of this review is to derive insights from testicular GCTs (seminoma and non-seminoma) by reviewing etiological, tumor biological, and clinical knowledge, and to thereafter suggest actions for ovarian GCTs based on this. We hypothesize that by adopting specific treatment strategies from testicular GCTs-including de-escalating adjuvant chemotherapy for low-risk patients and implementing more standardized and intensive treatment protocols in cases of relapse-we can improve the prognosis and minimize long-term side effects in ovarian GCT patients.

The burden of testicular cancer from 1990 to 2019 in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The incidence rate of testicular cancer has risen in many countries during recent decades. This study aimed to outline the impact of testicular cancer on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from 1990 to 2019, examining its burden by age group and according to the socio-demographic index (SDI). Data on the incidence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to testicular cancer were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019. The counts and age-standardized rates (per 100,000) were reported, and all rates were accompanied by 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). In MENA, the age-standardized incidence rate of testicular cancer was 1.4 per 100,000 in 2019, showing a 244.0% increase since 1990. Similarly, the annual death rate, at 0.1, experienced a 2.6% rise during the same period. In 2019, testicular cancer accounted for 31.1 thousand DALYs, marking an age-standardized rate of 5.0, which was 2.8% higher than in 1990. The 1-4 age group exhibited the largest incidence rate in 2019. In addition, in both 1990 and 2019 the MENA/Global DALY ratio was higher than one in the 1-14 year age groups. During the period 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized DALY rate of testicular cancer steadily rose with higher SDI values, except for a decrease observed at an SDI of 0.8. Over the last thirty years, there has been a notable rise in the burden of testicular cancer in the MENA region.

No evidence for seasonal variations of the incidence of testicular germ cell tumours in Germany.

The pathogenesis of testicular germ cell tumours (GCTs) is still incompletely understood. Any progress in its understanding must derive from observational studies. Recently, it has been suggested that the incidence of GCTs may follow a seasonal pattern based on circannual changes in the Vitamin D serum levels, with maximum incidence rates in winter months. To examine this promising hypothesis, we studied monthly incidence rates of testicular GCTs in Germany by analysing 30,988 GCT cases aged 15-69 years, diagnosed during 2009-2019. Monthly incident case numbers with data regarding histology and patient age were obtained from the Robert Koch Institut, Berlin, along with annual male population counts. We used precision weighting for deriving pooled monthly incidence rates for GCTs of the period 2009-2019. We stratified pooled rates by histology (seminoma and nonseminoma) and age (15-39 and 40-69 years). By assuming a cyclical effect, we used an estimator of the intensity of seasonal occurrence and report seasonal relative risks (RR). The mean monthly incidence rate was 11.93/105 person-months. The seasonal RR for testicular cancer over-all is 1.022 (95% CI 1.000-1.054). The highest seasonal RR was found in the subgroup of nonseminoma aged 15-39 years, with a RR 1.044 (95% CI 1.000-1.112). The comparison of the pooled monthly rates of the winter months (October-March) with the summer months (April-September) revealed a maximum relative difference of 5% (95% CI 1-10%) for nonseminoma, aged 15-39 years. We conclude that there is no evidence of a seasonal variation of incidence rates of testicular cancer. Our results are at odds with an Austrian study, but the present data appear sound because the results were obtained with precision weighted monthly incidence rates in a large population of GCT cases.

Testicular germ cell cancer in Africa: A survey on patterns of practice

Background: Testicular germ cell tumours (GCTs) are rare malignancies most prevalent in 15–40-year-old men. Incidence rates of testicular cancer on a global level show marked geographic variation with higher incidence rates reported in predominantly Caucasian populations. African data on GCT management show low incidence rates but an advanced stage at presentation and high mortality rates.Aim: The aim of the study was to explore patterns of practice in the management of testicual GCTs.Setting: The study was conducted in an African oncology care setting.Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was distributed to doctors or nurses providing oncology care for patients with testicular GCT in Africa. Data on staging procedures, chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) treatment schedules across institutions are reported and discussed in the context of international treatment guidelines and local resources.Results: Eleven African countries contributed data. Epidemiological estimates were received from 20 institutions and management and outcome data from 18 institutions. The estimated ratio of seminoma to non-seminoma was 1:1.3. The stage at presentation was tumour-node-metastases-serum marker (TNM-S) Stage III at half of the institutions surveyed. Chemotherapy regimens mostly followed international guidelines, but certain essential drugs were not consistently accessible at all centres. Radiotherapy services were available to all but one respondent, with three-dimensional planning being widely used. There was marked variation in RT doses and treatment fields.Conclusion: The resources to effectively manage testicular GCT appear to be accessible to most institutions surveyed. Regional management guidelines, sharing of clinical expertise within Africa through online platforms and centralised data collection on epidemiology, management and treatment efficacy are advocated to better allocate resources and improve the outcomes reported in this rare but potentially curable condition.

The systematic analysis and 10-year prediction on disease burden of childhood cancer in China.

BackgroundThere is a lack of in-depth analysis regarding the disease burden of childhood cancer in China. Indeed, this is the first time the topic has been addressed in detail. Drawing on population-based data for the past 30 years, this study systematically analyzes the composition and long-term trend of this disease burden in China.MethodsGBD 2019 contained population-based data from 1990 to 2019 and was prepared using Microsoft Excel 2016. We used AAPC and ARIMA models for trend analysis and prediction formulation.ResultsIn 2019, there were 45,601 new cases, 9,156 cancer deaths, and 782,530 DALYs in China. From 1990 to 2019, leukemia, together with brain and CNS cancer, invariably ranked highest in terms of new cases, cancer deaths, and DALYs. Leukemia accounted for more than 50%, but decreased over time. By contrast, the proportions for brain and CNS cancer increased. There were significant decreases in the overall incidence, mortality, and DALY rates in China, but these were still higher than the corresponding global average levels. Considering all types of childhood cancer, the incidence rate of testicular cancer showed the biggest increase, and the mortality and DALY rates of leukemia showed the largest decrease. In terms of different age groups, the overall incidence rate of childhood cancers increased in 0 to 4 age group, but it decreased in 5 to 14 age groups. The overall mortality and DALY rates of childhood cancers decreased in all four age groups. Over the next 10 years, the overall incidence rate of childhood cancer will increase, but the overall mortality and DALY rates will decrease. The increase in malignant skin melanoma will comprise the largest rise in the incidence, while the decrease for leukemia will be the largest fall in the incidence, cancer deaths, and DALYs.ConclusionThe disease burden of all childhood cancers in China remains highly serious, especially for certain types of cancer and certain age groups. China should focus more emphatically on the incidence of childhood cancer in future, and it must consistently strengthen investment in the relevant research and medical resources to reduce the disease burden in this field.

Racial, ethnic, and geographical differences in testicular cancer mortality trends in the United States.

409 Background: Incidence rates of Testicular cancer (TC) have been slowly increasing in the United States in recent decades. Prior research has identified racial disparities in mortality; however, these trends have not been extensively evaluated. Given that TC has a diverse presentation, this study was undertaken to establish racial, ethnic, geographical differences in longitudinal mortality trends. Methods: Age-adjusted cancer mortality rates for TC were obtained for men in the United States from the CDC Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database. Testicular cancer-specific mortality (TCSM) rates from 1999-2019 were calculated using linear regression. Trends in mortality by race (White versus Black), ethnicity (Hispanic versus non-Hispanic), urbanization, and census region were analyzed using SAS 9.4. TCSM rates were compared by F-test. A two-sided hypothesis test was performed for p-values, where values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: From 1999-2019, overall age-adjusted TCSM has been slowly, but not significantly, increasing per year (Table). There was worsening TCSM rates for Hispanics (+)0.0019 per 100,000 compared to non-Hispanics (-)0.003; p=0.010. Black men had slightly improved TCSM rates/year (-0.0007) compared to white men (+0.0006); p=0.049. Significant geographical differences in mortality rates were observed, with a decreasing TCSM rate of (-)0.00092 the Northeast and an increasing rate of (+)0.00086 in the West (p = 0.032 for difference between slopes). Among urbanization categories, TCSM rates in Large Central Metros regions (central counties in metro areas with population > 1 million) and Small Metro regions (counties with population 50,000-249,999) were significantly different [(-)0.0004 and (+)0.0022 respectively; p =0.048]. All other comparisons were not significant. Conclusions: Using comprehensive, contemporary data on TCSM over 2 decades, we found significant differences in TCSM rates. Mortality rates from TC have been increasing, particularly among Hispanics. Understanding racial, ethnic, and geographical trends in TCSM rates is important in treating men with the disease and, ultimately, reducing deaths caused by TC.[Table: see text]

Awareness of testicular cancer among young men: A literature review

AbstractWhat is the degree of knowledge and awareness regarding testicular cancer and what interventions may improve information about testicular cancer in the male population? Testicular cancer incidence rates are increasing among young men, who typically demonstrate poor awareness and a lack of knowledge about this disease. Although testicular self‐examination might be an effective method for early detection, few people know about this process or regularly perform it. This lack of examination could delay the diagnosis, which would affect treatment outcomes and mortality rates. A literature review was conducted starting from a bibliographic research in the major databases, and 450 documents were identified. The final analysis included 19 studies and found that men feel anxious about testicular cancer, which leads to a delay in their diagnosis and treatment, especially in developing countries. A widespread lack of awareness and knowledge about testicular cancer and self‐examination exists in these nations. Few males performed testicular self‐examination; most considered this procedure to be an invasion of their privacy and masculinity. The most effective tools to disseminate awareness about testicular cancer prevention were television, radio and YouTube. It is important to educate young males to spread information and improve awareness and knowledge about testicular cancer and self‐examination. However, the support of regular self‐examination is controversial, as this practice might also produce more harm than benefits due to the resulting false positives, fear and anxiety. Regular testicular cancer screening is therefore recommended in limited populations, including patients with risk factors, such as cryptorchidism or a family history of this cancer.

Temporal Trends in the Incidence of Testicular Cancer in the United States over the Past Four Decades

Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed solid-organ neoplasm among young men, with variable incidence across racial groups. Testicular cancer incidence has increased since the 1970s, most notably among white men. Such trends in testicular cancer remain poorly understood. We investigated age-adjusted incidence rates of testicular cancer from 1975 to 2015 using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results data to further understand the nature of the temporal trends and potential drivers of disease. Across this time period, white men had the highest incidence and the largest increase in rate; however, we also note more recent increases in the incidence of testicular cancer across all racial groups being examined. Patient summaryWe analyzed the rate of testicular cancer in the United States between 1975 and 2015. In that time, white patients had the highest rate and increase in rate of testicular cancer, but non-white patients also had increasing rates of disease.

Abstract C053: Testicular cancer in Hispanics: Incidence of subtypes over time according to neighborhood sociodemographic factors in California

Abstract Background: Hispanic men in the U.S. experience the second-highest incidence rate of testicular cancer, behind non-Hispanic (NH) White men. Incidence of testicular cancer is increasing in the U.S., despite reports of a plateau during the 1990’s, and increases are especially steep in the Hispanic population. To date, the literature does not address whether the incidence of testicular cancer or the observed increases in incidence differ according to neighborhood factors. Purpose: We examined incidence rates and changes in incidence over time for testicular cancer histologic subtypes (i.e., seminoma and nonseminoma) according to neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) among Hispanic and, for comparison, NH White men, and according to neighborhood ethnic enclave among Hispanic men, using California Cancer Registry Data. Methods: We conducted a population-based study of 12,228 Hispanic and NH White men diagnosed with testicular cancer in California during three pericensal periods 1988-1992, 1998-2002, and 2008-2012. We calculated incidence rates according to nSES and, among Hispanics, according to ethnic enclave. Incidence rate ratios were calculated to compare incidence rates across nSES and ethnic enclave and to examine changes in incidence rates over time. Results: Hispanic men residing in high SES neighborhoods, compared to low SES neighborhoods, had greater incidence of both seminoma and nonseminoma testicular cancer across pericensal periods (2008-2012, high to low nSES, seminoma IRR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.38-2.02 and nonseminoma IRR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.00-1.48). Hispanic men residing in low ethnic enclave neighborhoods also had higher incidence of both seminoma and nonseminoma across pericensal periods. Between the periods 1998-2002 and 2008-2012, Hispanic men residing in low SES neighborhoods experienced increased incidence of seminoma (IRR, 2008-2012 compared to 1998-2002, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.17-1.65) while those residing in both low and middle SES neighborhood experienced increased incidence of nonseminoma (IRR, 2008-2012 compared to 1998-2002 for low nSES, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.57-2.20 and for middle nSES, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.21-1.79). Conclusions: While Hispanic men residing in neighborhoods with higher SES and lower enclave status have greater incidence of both seminoma and nonseminoma testicular cancer, recent increases in incidence are driven by Hispanic men residing in lower SES neighborhoods, particularly for the nonseminoma histologic subtype. Citation Format: Mindy C DeRouen, Meg McKinley, Sumit A Shah, Hala T Borno, Rhonda Aoki, Daphne Y Lichtensztajn, John T Leppert, James D Brooks, Benjamin Chung, Scarlett L Gomez, Iona Cheng. Testicular cancer in Hispanics: Incidence of subtypes over time according to neighborhood sociodemographic factors in California [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr C053.

Racial differences in testicular cancer in the United States: descriptive epidemiology

BackgroundTesticular cancer (TC) is the most common malignancy in young adult men, and in many countries the incidence rates of testicular cancer have been increasing since the middle of the twentieth century. Since disease presentation and tumor progression patterns are often heterogeneous across racial groups, there may be important racial differences in recent TC trends.MethodsIn this study, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data on TC patients diagnosed between 1973 and 2015 were analyzed, including the following racial/ethnic groups: non-Hispanic whites (NHW), Hispanic whites (HW), blacks, and Asians and Pacific Islanders (API). Patient characteristics, age-adjusted incidence rates, and survival were compared across racial groups. A multivariate Cox model was used to analyze the survival data of TC patients, in order to evaluate racial differences across several relevant factors, including marital status, age group, histologic type, treatment, stage, and tumor location.ResultsNHWs had the highest incidence rates, followed by blacks, HWs, and APIs. There were significant survival differences among the racial groups, with NHWs having the highest survival rates and blacks having the lowest.ConclusionAn analysis of SEER data showed that racial differences existed among TC patients in the United States with respect to patient characteristics, incidence, and survival. The results can be useful to stakeholders interested in reducing the burden of TC morbidity and mortality.

MP76-10 TEMPORAL TRENDS IN THE INCIDENCE OF TESTICULAR CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES OVER THE PAST FOUR DECADES

You have accessJournal of UrologyPenile & Testicular Cancer: Penile & Testicular Cancer III (MP76)1 Apr 2020MP76-10 TEMPORAL TRENDS IN THE INCIDENCE OF TESTICULAR CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES OVER THE PAST FOUR DECADES Stephen W. Reese*, Karl H. Tully Herne, Junaid Nabi, Marco Paciotti, Eugene B. Cone, Stuart R. Lipsitz, and Quoc-Dien Trinh Stephen W. Reese*Stephen W. Reese* More articles by this author , Karl H. Tully HerneKarl H. Tully Herne More articles by this author , Junaid NabiJunaid Nabi More articles by this author , Marco PaciottiMarco Paciotti More articles by this author , Eugene B. ConeEugene B. Cone More articles by this author , Stuart R. LipsitzStuart R. Lipsitz More articles by this author , and Quoc-Dien TrinhQuoc-Dien Trinh More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000000962.010AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed solid-organ neoplasm in young men, with differences in incidence across racial groups. Testicular cancer incidence has increased since the 1970s, most notable in white men. However trends in testicular cancer remain unknown since the early 2000s. Thus, we investigated age-adjusted incidence rates of testicular cancer, from 1975 to 2015, using SEER data to further understand temporal trends and drivers of disease. METHODS: We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database to examine individuals aged 20-45 diagnosed with testicular cancer between 1975-2015 in the nine original SEER registries. We also performed sub-analyses according to stage at presentation and race. Average annual percentage change (AAPC) and 95% CI were calculated to examine changes over time using SEER*Stat Software. RESULTS: 23,560 men were diagnosed with testicular cancer in our study. Most patients had localized disease (68.5%). We observed a significant increase in localized disease over the last four decades, from 7.2 per 100,000 men in 1975 to 11.9 per 100,000 men in 2015 (AAPC 2.0*, 95% CI 1.5-2.5). White patients demonstrated the highest incidence (Range: 3.8 - 11.3/100,000 men) and the largest increase-in-incidence rates (AAPC 2.1*, 95%CI 1.5-2.7). The lowest incidence was observed in black men (AAPC 1.3*, 95% CI: 0.1-2.4). The incidence in white men has plateaued since 2002 (AAPC -0.3, -1.3-0.8), while incidence rates in black men (AAPC 1.3*, 95%CI 0.1-2.4) and men of other races (AAPC 1.9*, 95%CI 1.1-2.7) have increased at the same rate as before 2002 (Figure 2). [* statistically significant, p < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significant increase in incidence of testicular cancer over the last four decades. Etiologies for increasing rates of testicular cancer and for racial differences in the incidence of testicular cancer remain unclear, however warrant further investigation. Source of Funding: None. © 2020 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 203Issue Supplement 4April 2020Page: e1155-e1155 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2020 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Stephen W. Reese* More articles by this author Karl H. Tully Herne More articles by this author Junaid Nabi More articles by this author Marco Paciotti More articles by this author Eugene B. Cone More articles by this author Stuart R. Lipsitz More articles by this author Quoc-Dien Trinh More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

A Population-Based Analysis of Incidence, Mortality, and Survival in Testicular Cancer Patients in Lithuania.

Background and objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze trends in testicular cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in Lithuania during the period 1998–2013. Materials and Methods: The study was based on all cases of testicular cancer reported to the Lithuanian Cancer Registry between 1998 and 2013. Age group-specific rates and standardized rates were calculated using the direct method (European standard population). The Joinpoint regression model was used to provide the annual percentage change (APC). Five-year relative survival estimates were calculated using period analysis. Relative survival was calculated as the ratio of the observed survival of cancer patients and the expected survival of the underlying general population. Results: During the study period, the age-standardized incidence rate of testicular cancer increased from 1.97 to 3.45 per 100,000, with APC of 2.97% (95% CI 0.9 to 5.1). Incidence rate of seminomas changed from 0.71 to 1.54 per 100,000, with APC of 2.61% (95% CI −0.4 to 5.7), and the incidence rate of non-seminomas increased from 0.84 to 1.83 per 100,000, with APC of 4.16% (95% CI 1.6 to 6.8). The mortality rate of testicular cancer in Lithuania during this period declined from 0.78 to 0.51 per 100,000, with APC of −2.91% (95% CI −5.5 to −0.3). Relative five-year survival ratio for the period 2009–2013 was 89.39% (95% CI 82.2 to 94.4). In our study, the overall five-year relative survival increased slightly (10.1%) from 2004–2008 to 2009–2013 (from 79.3% to 89.4%). Conclusions: A moderate increase of testicular cancer incidence has been observed in Lithuania between the years 1998 and 2013, while the mortality rate decreased. The five-year relative survival increased according to different period estimates; however, the results could have been higher if a multidisciplinary approach to diagnostics and management in the concerned centers had been implemented in Lithuania as in other countries.

Semen quality of young men in Switzerland: a nationwide cross-sectional population-based study.

BackgroundSperm counts have been steadily decreasing over the past five decades with regional differences in the Western world. The reasons behind these trends are complex, but numerous insights indicate that environmental and lifestyle factors are important players.ObjectiveTo evaluate semen quality and male reproductive health in Switzerland.Materials and methodsA nationwide cross‐sectional study was conducted on 2523 young men coming from all regions of Switzerland, recruited during military conscription. Semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were analyzed. Anatomy of the genital area and testicular volume was recorded. Testicular cancer incidence rates in the general population were retrieved from Swiss regional registries.ResultsMedian sperm concentration adjusted for period of sexual abstinence was 48 million/mL. Comparing with the 5th percentile of the WHO reference values for fertile men, 17% of men had sperm concentration below 15 million/mL, 25% had less than 40% motile spermatozoa, and 43% had less than 4% normal forms. Disparities in semen quality among geographic regions, urbanization rates, and linguistic areas were limited. A larger proportion of men with poor semen quality had been exposed in utero to maternal smoking. Furthermore, testicular cancer incidence rates in the Swiss general population increased significantly between 1980 and 2014.DiscussionFor the first time, a systematic sampling among young men has confirmed that semen quality is affected on a national level. The median sperm concentration measured is among the lowest observed in Europe. No specific geographical differences could be identified. Further studies are needed to determine to what extent the fertility of Swiss men is compromised and to evaluate the impact of environmental and lifestyle factors.ConclusionA significant proportion of Swiss young men display suboptimal semen quality with only 38% having sperm concentration, motility, and morphology values that met WHO semen reference criteria.

The incidence of testicular cancer in Iran from 1996 to 2017: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: Testicular cancer (TC), although it is one of the most unusual cancers, seems to be increasing. There is no accurate information on the incidence of this cancer in Iran. The present study is conducted to evaluate the incidence rates of TC in Iran. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on all published studies of TC incidence using Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar and four Iranian databases (Scientific Information Database, MagIran, IranMedex and IranDoc) until June 2018. This systematic review was done according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Result: The database searching yielded 132 potentially relevant studies. A total of 11 studies were included in the study. The results of the random-effects model were demonstrated that the age-standardised rate (ASR) of TC was 1.13, 95% confidence interval (0.97–1.29) among Iranian males. Conclusion: ASR for TC in Iran is lower than the world average; however, it has a higher incidence than other Asian countries.

International testicular cancer incidence rates in children, adolescents and young adults

BackgroundTesticular cancer is the most common cancer in young men in developed countries. In adults, international variation in testicular cancer incidence rates has been well-described, while previous research on pediatric and adolescent testicular cancer has been more geographically limited. MethodsIn this analysis, we used data from the three most recent volumes of Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) and the National Cancer Institute’s SEER 18 registries to compare incidence rates for testicular cancer in children (ages 0–14) and adolescents and young adults (AYA; ages 15–39). ResultsWe find that geographic incidence patterns in AYA are different from patterns in children under 15. In AYA, incidence is highest in Europe (137.4 per million), followed by Oceania (116.9 per million), North America (94.9 per million), South and Central America (66.5 per million), and lowest in Asia (27.1 per million). In contrast, childhood incidence is highest in Asia (4.2 per million) and South America (5.0 per million) and lowest in Europe (2.1 per million) and North America (2.5 per million). In the United States, patterns in incidence rates in racial and ethnic groups mirror international rates. ConclusionThese differences in incidence rate variations in pediatric and AYA testicular cancer are intriguing and may aid in understanding the different etiologies of testicular cancer by age group.

Effect of Zinc on Spermatogenesis and Sperm Chromatin Condensation in Bleomycin, Etoposide, Cisplatin Treated Rats.

Objective The incidence rate of testicular cancer among young males is high. Co-administration of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP) has increased survival rate of patients with testicular cancer. Although BEP is one of the most effective treatment for testicular cancer, but it severely affects the reproductive system that ultimately leads to infertility. In addition to its antioxidant activity, zinc has an important role in progression of spermiogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of zinc on sperm parameters, chromatin condensation and testicular structure after BEP treatment. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, 40 male rats were divided into 4 groups (control, BEP, BEP+ zinc and zinc) and examined for 2 spermatogenesis periods (i.e. 18 weeks). The rats in BEP and BEP+ zinc group were treated with BEP at appropriate doses (0.75, 7.5, and 1.5 mg/kg) for three cycles of three weeks. Zinc at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day was administered to BEP+ zinc and zinc groups. After 18 weeks, we assessed sperm parameters, and excessive histone in sperm chromatin using aniline blue staining, as well as testicular structure and germ line cells using periodic acid-Schiff staining. Results After BEP treatment, significant decreases were observed in normal sperm morphology, motility, and concentration, as well as alterations in rat sperm chromatin condensation and testicular tissue (P<0.001). Furthermore, after zinc consumption for 9 weeks, we observed significant improvements of sperm parameters and chromatin condensation as well as a significant retrieval of spermatogonia, leydig cells and tubular architecture (P<0.05). ConclusionZinc administration after chemotherapy with BEP in testicular cancer might be potentially useful in declining the off target consequence associated with oxidative stress.

Attitudes Toward Testicular Cancer and Self-Examination Among Northern Irish Males.

Testicular cancer incidence rates are increasing worldwide making it the most common malignancy in males aged 15 to 45 years. Without a known way to prevent the disease health professionals must promote awareness and early detection. A literature review identified a scarcity of information regarding awareness and knowledge of, and attitudes toward, testicular cancer and testicular self-examination among men in Northern Ireland. This study aimed to establish baseline data for Northern Ireland using a convenience sample of 150 men, aged 18 to 45 years. The sample was recruited from across the country and so represents a range of education and area deprivation levels. An online survey was used to collect data. Results showed that while 39% of respondents correctly identified the age group at highest risk for testicular cancer, only 17% of respondents had ever heard of a testicular self-examination. Analysis revealed knowledge, awareness, and attitudes differed by age groups and area deprivation quintiles. It is recommended that health promoters in Northern Ireland and elsewhere use these findings to tailor health promotion initiatives to engage men and raise testicular cancer and self-examination awareness.

International testicular cancer incidence trends: generational transitions in 38 countries 1900-1990.

Rapid increases in testicular cancer incidence have marked the second half of the last century. While these secular rises, observed mainly in countries attaining the highest levels of human development, appear to have attenuated in the last decade, rates continue to increase in countries transiting toward high developmental levels. The purpose of our study was to provide a comprehensive analysis and presentation of the cohort-specific trends in testicular cancer incidence rates in 38 countries worldwide. We used an augmented version of the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents series to analyze testicular cancer incidence in men aged 15-54 in 38 countries, via age-period-cohort analysis. In many European countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, there is a continuation of the increasing risk among successive generations, yet rates are attenuating in male cohorts born since the 1970s in several Northern European countries, in contrast to the steeply increasing trends in recent cohorts in Southern Europe. Incidence rates have also been increasing in the populations traditionally at rather low risk, such as in the Philippines, Singapore, China, and Costa Rica. The attenuation of testicular cancer risk in younger generations (in the most developed countries) alongside concomitant increases (in countries undergoing developmental change) is indicative of a global transition in the risk of testicular cancer. While identifying the underlying causes remains a major challenge, increasing awareness and adapting national healthcare systems to accommodate a growing burden of testicular cancer may prevent future avoidable deaths in young men.

International patterns and trends in testicular cancer incidence, overall and by histologic subtype, 1973-2007.

Incidence rates of testicular cancer in Northern European and North American countries have been widely reported, whereas rates in other populations, such as Eastern Europe, Central/South America, Asia, and Africa, have been less frequently evaluated. We examined testicular cancer incidence rates overall and by histologic type by calendar time and birth cohort for selected global populations 1973-2007. Age-standardized incidence rates over succeeding 5-year periods were calculated from volumes 4-9 of Cancer Incidence in Five Continents electronic database (CI5plus) and the newly released CI5X (volume 10) database. Annual percent change over the 35-year period was calculated using weighted least squares regression. Age-period-cohort analyses were performed and observed rates and fitted rate ratios presented by birth cohort. Incidence rates of testicular cancer increased between 1973-1977 and 2003-2007 in most populations evaluated worldwide. Of note, incidence rates in Eastern European countries rose rapidly and approached rates in Northern European countries. Rates in Central and South America also increased and are now intermediate to the high rates among men of European ancestry and low rates among men of Asian or African descent. Some heterogeneity in the trends in seminoma and nonseminoma were observed in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and among US whites, particularly in recent generations, with rapid and uniform increases in the incidence of both histologic types in Slovakia. Reasons for the rising incidence rates among European and American populations remain unexplained; however, changing distributions in the prevalence of risk factors for testicular cancer cannot be ruled out.

International geographic correlation study of the prevalence of disorders of male reproductive health

Is there evidence at the population level of associations between different male genital disorders, outside Scandinavian countries? At an international scale, there is evidence for a number of correlations between rates of four male reproductive disorders (hypospadias, cryptorchidism, testicular cancer and low sperm concentration). Some associations between these outcomes have been shown in studies focusing on individuals and mainly in Nordic European countries. These associations, together with histological evidence of a dysgenesis pattern in testicular tissue specimens, have generated the concept of the existence of a 'testicular dysgenesis syndrome' originating in utero. This is a geographical correlation study using cancer, malformations rates and sperm quality data collected between the years 1998 and 2005. Incidence rates of testicular cancer were extracted from International Agency for Research on Cancer registries and Globocan, while cryptorchidism and hypospadias prevalence rates were obtained from EUROCAT and International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research registries. Sperm concentration data were extracted from recent studies using standardized methodology. A total of 39 registries and 9 sperm studies were selected. Non-parametric Spearman correlation tests were used to test the association between these four disorders. Correlations were computed for all registries together, for registries with high-quality matching coverage only and by continents. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted using data from prospective clinical studies to take into account potential bias related mainly to ascertainment of malformation rates. We found positive correlations between testicular cancer and hypospadias (r = 0.32, P = 0.05) and between hypospadias and cryptorchidism (r = 0.70, P = 0.008). Stronger correlations were observed when using registries with high-quality matching coverage. Among these registries, differences between Europe and the rest of the world appeared (the positive correlation between testicular cancer and cryptorchidism was stronger outside Europe, r = 0.83, P = 0.01 compared with 0.40, P = 0.60 for European registries). A negative correlation between testicular cancer and sperm concentration was observed (r = -0.88, P = 0.002). These correlations support our initial hypothesis but remain only suggestive due to the intrinsic limitations in the study design (i.e. geographical correlation study) and do not allow causal inference. Differences in the ascertainment of malformations rates (definition, length of follow-up) make the international comparison difficult. The small number of registries for some conditions (cryptorchidism) or of studies (for sperm quality) and the absence of information about major risk factors such as ethnicity and socioeconomic status in the registries are also limitations. Our findings are in agreement with results of studies focusing on individuals and suggest that shared risk factors are present in the populations studied.