Physical activity, medical history, and risk of testicular cancer (Alberta and British Columbia, Canada)

Gallagher, Richard P.; Huchcroft, Shirley A.; Phillips, Norm; Hill, Gerry B.; Coldman, Andrew J.; Coppin, Chris; Lee, Tim

doi:10.1007/bf00052179

Cited by 74 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The results of the present evaluation are in line with seven previous studies (Kleinteich and Marx, 1983;Gallagher et al, 1995;Dieckmann and Pichlmeier, 2002;Rasmussen et al, 2003;Richiardi et al, 2003;Hardell et al, 2006;McGlynn et al, 2007) encompassing 3098 patients. Nine other studies had failed to demonstrate a significant correlation of body size with GCT risk (Whittemore et al, 1984;Swerdlow et al, 1989;Thune and Lund, 1994;UK Testicular Cancer Study Group, 1994;Davies et al, 1990Davies et al, , 1996Petridou et al, 1997;Bjørge et al, 2006;Stang et al, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Tallness is associated with risk of testicular cancer: evidence for the nutrition hypothesis

Hartmann

Claßen

et al. 2008

Br J Cancer

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The pathogenesis of testicular germ cell tumours (GCTs) is potentially influenced by high-energy nutrition during infancy. As adult height is a proxy for childhood nutrition, we investigated the role of nutrition in GCT pathogenesis by comparing stature of patients with healthy men. In a matched case -control study, 6415 patients with GCT were compared with healthy army conscripts (1:6 matching modus) with regard to height (cm) and body mass index (BMI; kg/m 2 ). Statistical analysis involved tabulation of descriptive height measures and BMI. Conditional logistic regression models were used to quantify the association of GCT with height, with odds ratios (OR) adjusted for BMI. The literature was searched for studies on stature in GCT patients. Body size is significantly associated with risk of GCT, very tall men (4195 cm) having a GCT risk of OR ¼ 3.35 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 2.88 -3.90; adjusted). Short stature is protective (OR ¼ 0.798; 95% CI: 0.68 -0.93). Both histologic subgroups are associated with tallness. Of 16 previous reports, 7 were confirmative, 5 had null and 4 equivocal results. The association of stature with GCT risk accords with the nutrition hypothesis of GCT. This study expands the current view of GCT tumorigenesis by suggesting that high-calorie intake in childhood promotes GCT precursors originating in utero.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Tallness is associated with risk of testicular cancer: evidence for the nutrition hypothesis

Hartmann

Claßen

et al. 2008

Br J Cancer

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“…The indication of a raised risk of testicular cancer in taller twins accords with evidence in this direction, but not strong, from four case-control studies of unrelated subjects (Brown et al, 1987;Swerdlow et al, 1989;UK Testicular Cancer Study Group, 1994;Gallagher et al, 1995), although not a fifth (Davies et al, 1990). A cohort study with fewer cases reported no association but did not publish further details (Whittemore et al, 1984).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Risk factors for testicular cancer: a case-control study in twins

et al. 1999

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Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in young men in many Western countries, and is increasing in incidence. Despite epidemiological investigations over several decades its aetiology remains largely unknown. The peak of incidence of the tumour at around age 30 years and other features of its epidemiology suggest that aetiological factors operate early in life, either prenatally or in childhood and adolescence (Swerdlow, 1997). Investigation of exposures at such young ages is hampered, however, by the difficulty of gaining reliable information about them many years later by questions to adult patients. Case-control studies of malignancy in twins, comparing risk factors in affected twins with those in unaffected co-twins, give an unusual opportunity to investigate aetiological factors in early life, because comparative measures can be used to investigate factors that are usually difficult to recall exactly in order to enable comparison between cases and unrelated controls. We therefore conducted a case-control study of testicular cancer in twins in England and Wales. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe methods of identification of the subjects and collection of data from them have been described in detail elsewhere (Swerdlow et al, 1996(Swerdlow et al, , 1997. In brief, twin-born men with testicular cancer incident in England and Wales from 1971 to 1989 were identified by clerical linkage between national cancer registration files, birth registers and the National Health Service Central Register. All same-sex twin pairs identified in this way were contacted to administer questionnaires on zygosity (Torgersen, 1979;Mack et al, 1995) and potential risk factors for testicular cancer. These factors included perinatal variables, anthropometric measures at various ages, childhood diet and exercise, puberty, acne, childhood infections, other illnesses and malformations, and diseases and malformations in relatives. The risk factor information analysed was that reported in the questionnaires; no previously recorded information on these variables was available to us. When responses were contradictory or unclear, we attempted to resolve this by recontact with the subjects, usually by telephone.For each risk factor, we examined the responses of the twin pair to questions about each other, in pairs in which both twins had replied, in order to determine whether responses from a single respondent about the two members of the pair would be reliable. When this proved to be so, we analysed data from the case and cotwin when both had replied, as well as from a single twin (about both of the pair) when he had been the sole respondent. When responses from subjects about their co-twins proved to be unreliable, we restricted the analyses to data from subjects about themselves. In analyses of comparative variables, pairs who gave contradictory responses to a question (e.g. each reported that they were the taller at a particular age) were excluded from analysis. In no instance did they constitute more than 5% of pairs. When one twin repor...

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“…These factors could not, however, explain the results. Age at onset of puberty (37) and trauma or injuries (32,38) have been suggested to influence the cancer risk. Our finding was neither associated with onset of puberty nor disciplines closely to trauma or injuries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%