Testicular Cancer

T-cell lymphomas involve the testis infrequently, which deserve special attention because of the poor prognosis and the need to make an appropriate diagnosis, which could lead to a better therapeutic strategy.|T-cell lymphomas involve the testis infrequently, which deserve special attention because of the poor prognosis and the need to make an appropriate diagnosis, which could lead to a better therapeutic strategy.

Background

The metabolic syndrome (MS) might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in testicular cancer (TC) survivors. We investigated its prevalence, development, vascular implications, and the role of gonadal function.

Methods

TC survivors treated with chemotherapy and follow-up ≥3 years (N = 370, study I) were retrospectively evaluated for the development of cardiovascular risk factors. A subgroup followed 3–20 years (N = 173, study I

The BJC is owned by Cancer Research UK, a charity dedicated to understanding the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer and to making sure that the best new treatments reach patients in the clinic as quickly as possible. The journal reflects these aims. It was founded more than fifty years ago and, from the start, its far-sighted mission was to encourage communication of the very best cancer research from laboratories and clinics in all countries. The breadth of its coverage, its editorial independenc

Background

Despite high curability, some testicular cancer (TC) patient groups may have increased mortality. We provide a detailed age- and histology-specific comparison of population-based relative survival of TC patients in Europe and the USA.

Design

Using data from 12 European cancer registries and the USA Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results 9 database, we report survival trends for patients diagnosed with testicular seminomas and nonseminomas betwee

The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has multiple functions that promote cell survival, proliferation and migration in different cell types. The experimental over-expression of GDNF in mouse testis leads to infertility and promotes seminomatous germ cell tumours in older animals, which suggests that deregulation of the GDNF pathway may be implicated in germ cell carcinogenesis. GDNF activates downstream pathways upon binding to its specific co-receptor GDNF family receptor-a 1 (GFRA1). This complex then interacts with Ret and other co-receptors to activate several intracellular signalling cascades. To explore the involvement of the GDNF pathway in the onset and progression of testicular germ cell tumours, we analysed GFRA1 and Ret expression patterns in seminoma samples. We demonstrated, via immunohistochemistry, that GFRA1, but not Ret, is over-expressed in in situ carcinoma (CIS) and in intratubular and invasive seminoma cells compared with normal human germ cells.

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) generally respond well to chemotherapy, but tumors that express low levels of the transcription factor OCT4 are associated with chemoresistance and poor prognosis. Hypoxia is known to induce drug resistance in TGCTs; however, the mechanistic basis for reduced expression of OCT4 and drug resistance is unclear. Here we show that hypoxia reduces OCT4 levels and increases the resistance of embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells to cisplatin and bleomycin. Furthermore, we show that the loss of OCT4 expression under hypoxia can be triggered by sumoylation, which was regulated by SUMO1 and the SUMO1 peptidase SENP1. Under hypoxic conditions, overexpression of SUMO1gg (the active form of SUMO1) not only increased the level of sumoylated OCT4 (Su-OCT4), but also decreased the stability of OCT4 protein. In addition, overexpression of SENP1 reduced the Su-OCT4 level induced by SUMO1gg overexpression, thereby maintaining OCT4 levels and enhancing chemosensitivity.

Historically the placement of testicular prosthesis during orchiectomy for torsion is delayed despite reports of safe prosthesis placement during mastectomy and orchiectomy for cancer as well as the removal of infected penile prostheses. We describe our experience with intravaginal testicular prosthesis at orchiectomy in adolescents with torsion.|Consecutive pubertal patients undergoing exploration for torsion from 2010 to 2011 were offered orchiectomy with staged prosthesis or combined orchiectomy and prosthesis exchange for nonsalvageable testis. Through a midline scrotal incision the ipsilateral tunica vaginalis was opened, testis detorsed and contralateral orchiopexy performed. When verified as unviable, the ipsilateral spermatic cord was suture ligated within the tunica vaginalis and preplaced sutures secured the saline filled prosthesis in the tunica vaginalis. Patients were discharged home on the day of surgery with 5 days of oral antibiotics and narcotics. Demographic,