Testicular germ cell tumor: Short and long-term side effects of treatment among survivors

Abstract

Abstract. Long-term prognosis of germ cell tumor (GCT) types is excellent, however, treatment is associated with non-negligible complication rates and a negative impact on quality of life. The present study described treatment results in terms of survival, both short and long-term toxicity, and paternity rates in a cohort of patients treated at Jules Bordet Institute, University ULB of Brussels (Brussels, Belgium). The present study analyzed the data of a cohort of patients with GCT types. Pre-operative patient and tumor characteristics were described. Performance status, pulmonary function tests and renal clearance prior to chemotherapy were noted. Chemotherapeutic regimens and their associated toxicities were analyzed. The duration to event-free, cancer-specific and overall survivals were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. A total of 115 patients (median age, 31-years-old) were treated for a GCT at Jules Bordet Institute. At a median follow-up of 6-years, 11 (10%) patients had relapsed and 2 (2%) developed a second malignant neoplasm. At the final follow-up, 97 (89%) and 6 (5.5%) patients exhibited complete and partial remission, respectively. A total of 6% of patients exhibited a progressive disease. In terms of short-term toxicity, 11% of patients presented with febrile neutropenia. The 10-year overall survival rate and relapse-free survival rate were 93.4 and 89.8%, respectively. The paternity rate post-treatment was 27%. Testicular GCT survivors suffered from short-and long-term treatment-associated side effects on both a physical and psychological level. A long-term close follow-up is necessary in order to assist the patient with these treatment-induced complications.

Fatherhood and Sperm DNA Damage in Testicular Cancer Patients

“…Botchan et al reported the use of ART in 70/682 patients who had cryobanked semen prior to cancer treatment, achieving 36 to-term pregnancies ( 179 ). The previously cited study by Ping et al ( 166 ) analyzed the reproductive outcome of 117 TC patients post-treatment, finding that 19 (26%) of the 73 patients attempting fatherhood had been successful through ART with fresh semen (11 patients) or cryobanked semen (8 patients), similar to the results of a later study by Gil et al ( 180 ). Zakova et al ( 181 ) found a higher pregnancy rate, at 47% (16/34 patients), and better results were also reported by Molnar et al ( 182 ) (57%; 4/7 patients).…”

Risk stratification for febrile neutropenia in patients with testicular germ cell tumors

“…For metastatic cases, the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) has identified three prognostic groups: good, intermediate, and poor risk. With optimal management the 5‐year survival rate approximates 91%, 79% and 48% in metastatic disease with good, intermediate and poor prognosis . Depending on the prognostic group three or four cycles of BEP represent the standard of care for relapsed or metastatic disease.…”

Caregiver Emotional Burden in Testicular Cancer Patients: From Patient to Caregiver Support

“…In this contest, improving knowledge and social support to caregivers could help to ameliorate patients' global health. Confirming this, depression symptoms are less frequent in patients living in couples (21). Taking care of a patient with cancer is described as a full-time job (22) and caregivers themselves often are in great need of psychological support.…”