Bone marrow-sparing intensity-modulated radiation therapy for Stage I seminoma

BACKGROUND

A direct association between radiotherapy dose, side-effects and secondary cancers has been described in patients with seminoma. A treatment planning study was performed in order to compare computed tomography-based traditional radiotherapy (CT-tRT) versus bone marrow-sparing intensity-modulated radiation therapy (BMS-IMRT) in patients with Stage I seminoma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We optimized in 10 patients a CT-tRT and a BMS-IMRT treatment plan to deliver 20 Gy to the para-aortic nodes. CT-tRT and IMRT consisted of anteroposterior-posterioranterior parallel-opposed and seven non-opposed coplanar fields using 16 and 6-MV photon energies, respectively. Dose-Volume Histograms for clinical target volume (CTV), planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs) were compared for both techniques using Wilcoxon matched-pair signed rank-test.

RESULTS

D(mean) to CTV and PTV were similar for both techniques, even if CT-tRT showed a slightly improved target coverage in terms of PTV-D(95%) (19.7 vs. 19.5 Gy, p = 0.005) and PTV-V(95%) (100 vs. 99.7%, p = 0.011) compared to BMS-IMRT. BMS-IMRT resulted in a significant reduction (5.2 Gy, p = 0.005) in the D(mean) to the active bone marrow (ABM). The V(100%) and V(75%) of the OARs were reduced with BMS-IMRT by: ABM-V(100%) = 51.7% and ABM-V(75%) = 42.3%; bowel-V(100%) = 15.7% and bowel-V(75%) = 16.8%; stomach-V(100%) = 22% and stomach-V(75%) = 27.7%; pancreas-V(100%) = 37.1% and pancreas-V(75%) = 35.9% (p = 0.005 for all variables).

CONCLUSIONS

BMS-IMRT reduces markedly the dose to the OARs compared to CT-tRT. This should translate into a reduction in acute and long-term toxicity, as well as into the risk of secondary solid and hematological cancers.

Testicular cancer: seminoma

INTRODUCTION

More than half of painless solid swellings of the body of the testis are malignant, with a peak incidence in men aged 25 to 35 years. Most testicular cancers are germ cell tumours and half of these are seminomas, which tend to affect older men and have a good prognosis.

METHODS AND OUTCOMES

We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of treatments in men with stage 1 seminoma (confined to testis) who have undergone orchidectomy? What are the effects of treatments in men with good-prognosis non-stage 1 seminoma who have undergone orchidectomy? What are the effects of maintenance chemotherapy in men who are in remission after orchidectomy and chemotherapy for good-prognosis non-stage 1 seminoma? What are the effects of treatments in men with intermediate-prognosis seminoma who have undergone orchidectomy? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to June 2010 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

RESULTS

We found 29 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

In this systematic review, we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: chemotherapy (maintenance, adjuvant, single-agent carboplatin, 3 or 4 cycles, different number of cycles of adjuvant, using bleomycin added to vinblastine plus cisplatin, using etoposide plus cisplatin with or without bleomycin, adding higher doses to a 2-drug chemotherapy regimen using cisplatin or vinblastine); radiotherapy (different adjuvant regimens [20 Gy in 10 fractions to para-aortic area, 30 Gy in 15 fractions to para-aortic area and iliac nodes], different drug combinations, 30-36 Gy in 15-18 fractions); and surveillance.

Predicted rates of secondary malignancies from proton versus photon radiation therapy for stage I seminoma

PURPOSE

Photon radiotherapy has been the standard adjuvant treatment for stage I seminoma. Single-dose carboplatin therapy and observation have emerged as alternative options due to concerns for acute toxicities and secondary malignancies from radiation. In this institutional review board-approved study, we compared photon and proton radiotherapy for stage I seminoma and the predicted rates of excess secondary malignancies for both treatment modalities.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

Computed tomography images from 10 consecutive patients with stage I seminoma were used to quantify dosimetric differences between photon and proton therapies. Structures reported to be at increased risk for secondary malignancies and in-field critical structures were contoured. Reported models of organ-specific radiation-induced cancer incidence rates based on organ equivalent dose were used to determine the excess absolute risk of secondary malignancies. Calculated values were compared with tumor registry reports of excess secondary malignancies among testicular cancer survivors.

RESULTS

Photon and proton plans provided comparable target volume coverage. Proton plans delivered significantly lower mean doses to all examined normal tissues, except for the kidneys. The greatest absolute reduction in mean dose was observed for the stomach (119 cGy for proton plans vs. 768 cGy for photon plans; p < 0.0001). Significantly more excess secondary cancers per 10,000 patients/year were predicted for photon radiation than for proton radiation to the stomach (4.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.22-5.01), large bowel (0.81; 95% CI, 0.39-1.01), and bladder (0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.58), while no difference was demonstrated for radiation to the pancreas (0.02; 95% CI, -0.01-0.06).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with stage I seminoma, proton radiation therapy reduced the predicted secondary cancer risk compared with photon therapy. We predict a reduction of one additional secondary cancer for every 50 patients with a life expectancy of 40 years from the time of radiation treatment with protons instead of photons. Proton radiation therapy also allowed significant sparing of most critical structures examined and warrants further study for patients with seminoma, to decrease radiation-induced toxicity.

Clinicopathological features and survival of testicular tumours in a Southeast Asian university hospital: a ten-year review

INTRODUCTION

Testicular cancer mainly affects young men worldwide. There is lack of published data on patients with this malignant condition from the Southeast Asian region. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the clinicopathologic features of testicular cancer patients treated in a Southeast Asian university hospital and their overall survival rate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of testicular cancer patients treated between January 2001 and February 2011. Their epidemiological data, clinical presentation, pathologic diagnosis, stage of disease and treatment were gathered and the overall survival rate of this cohort was analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients were included in this study. The majority of them were of Malay ethnicity. The average age at presentation was 33.7 years. The commonest testicular cancer was non-seminomatous germ cell tumour, followed by seminoma, lymphoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. More than half of all testicular germ cell tumour (GCT) patients had some form of metastasis at diagnosis. All the patients were treated with radical orchidectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was given to those with metastatic disease. Four seminoma patients received radiotherapy to the para-aortic lymph nodes. The 5-year survival rate for all testicular cancers in this cohort was 83.9%. The survival rate was 88.9% in 5 years when GCT were analyzed separately.

CONCLUSION

GCT affects patients in their third and fourth decades of life while lymphoma patients are generally older. Most of the patients treated for GCT are of Malay ethnicity. The majority have late presentation for treatment. The survival rate of GCT patients treated here is comparable to other published series in other parts of the world.

Cytogenetic follow-up in testicular seminoma patients exposed to adjuvant radiotherapy

Early stage testicular seminoma is a radiosensitive tumor. Its incidence has significantly increased during the last decade especially in the young population. Although the therapy for testicular seminoma gives very satisfying results, the evaluation of genome damage caused by the therapy is of a great importance in order to recognize possible related health risks. The present study was performed on ten patients diagnosed with seminoma stage I; pT1/2N0M0S0, treated with adjuvant radiotherapy (a radiation dose of 25 Gy divided in 16 fractions) after orchidectomy. To assess the possible existence of an increased baseline DNA/chromosome damage in patients we also selected the appropriate control group often healthy men. The levels of primary DNA/chromosome damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes, as well as the dynamics of their repair were studied using the alkaline comet assay, chromosome aberration and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. Altogether four blood samples per patient were collected in the course of the therapy: before and after receiving the first dose of radiotherapy, in the middle of the radiotherapy cycle, and after the last dose of radiotherapy. Other two follow-up blood samples were collected six and twelve months after the cessation of therapy. As observed, the administration of the first radiation dose significantly increased the levels of DNA damage in almost all patients compared to their baseline values. Specific patterns of DNA damage were recorded in samples analyzed in the middle of radiotherapy and after receiving the last dose, indicating the possibility of an adaptive response in some patients. The levels of chromosomal aberrations and the incidence of micronuclei also increased in the course of therapy but gradually declined during the follow-up period. Our results confirmed the existence of post-irradiation damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes (and possibly in other non-target cells) of cancer patients which may represent a risk for the secondary cancer development. Considering that the majority of patients with testicular cancer are of a younger age, they represent a population deserving special attention. As cytogenetic screening may detect high-risk individuals, it might be useful in regular medical monitoring of seminoma patients after the successful therapy.

[Experience of the treatment for clinical Stage-1 seminoma over a period of 10 years]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Patients with clinical stage I seminoma accounts for 70%-80% of patients with this disease. This study was to analyze the relationship between different therapeutic methods and the prognosis of this disease.

METHODS

The data of all patients with clinical Stage I seminoma treated by multi-disciplinary approach from 1999 to 2008 in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were analyzed. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on the treatment they received after orchiectomy: 30 patients treated with chemotherapy, 8 with radiotherapy, and 20 under surveillance. The prognosis of different treatment groups was evaluated.

RESULTS

Among the 58 patients with stage I seminoma, 57 were followed up successfully. The median follow-up time was 50 months (range, 8-115 months). No relapse or metastasis was seen in the chemotherapy group. One patient relapsed in the radiotherapy group. Four patients had metastasis of retroperitoneal lymph node in the surveillance group. The disease-free survival was higher in the chemotherapy group than that in the surveillance group (P=0.005). There was no significant difference in the relapse-free survival between the surveillance group and the radiotherapy group (P=0.364).

CONCLUSIONS

Chemotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for patients with Stage-1 seminoma after radical orchidectomy.

Therapeutic options following orchiectomy for stage I seminoma

Stage I seminoma represents the paradigm of a curable malignancy, with survival of 100% an expected outcome no matter what treatment option is chosen. However, consensus has not been reached among urologists and oncologists regarding the optimal postoperative management in men with clinical stage I testicular seminoma. Currently, men are offered active surveillance, adjuvant radiation therapy, or single-agent chemotherapy. Active surveillance is associated with an 80% chance of no relapse, with all such events salvageable. Radiotherapy has an almost universal cure rate but has the potential for long-term toxicities and an overtreatment rate of about 80%. Chemotherapy efficacy and toxicity data are still immature. Recent guidelines recognize that the options of surveillance, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are appropriate in the treatment of patients with clinical stage I seminoma. We believe active surveillance to be the best option, then radiotherapy (considering the efficacy and safety data), with single-agent chemotherapy emerging as a possible alternative.

Adjuvant radiotherapy in stage I seminoma: is there a role for further reduction of treatment volume?

An analysis was performed to determine whether a cranial reduction of the portals to the T11/T12 junction instead of the common T10/T11 junction would alter the outcome of patients with stage I seminoma. Of 163 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed testicular seminoma referred to the authors' institution between April 1992 and April 1999, 80 patients with stage I seminoma were treated with cranially reduced para-aortic treatment fields reaching from the top of T12 to the bottom of L4. Median total dose was 20.0 Gy (range, 19.8-27.2 Gy). Patients were followed-up by the use of CT in regular intervals. After a median follow-up of 7.1 years (range, 4.1-11.1 years), four patients (5%) had relapsed resulting in an actuarial 5-year relapse-free survival of 95%. No patients relapsed within the cranially reduced treatment volume above the top of T12. The cranial reduction of the para-aortic treatment fields resulted in a median reduction of treatment volume of 16% (range, 13-21%). The achieved median reduction in treatment volume of 16% appears to be relevant and is not associated with an increased relapse rate. This approach is recommended in analogy to the surgical approach in NSGCT to further minimize the risk of radiation-related late effects.

[Stage I seminoma and radiotherapy: to bury it or not?]

Postorchidectomy management of stage I testis seminoma has evolved for many years. Three treatment options should be discussed after surgery. Surveillance tends toward taking a more significant place to avoid overtreatment, adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin has demonstrated its efficiency, and for some, preventive radiotherapy, the historical reference treatment, is losing momentum. Whatever the chosen orientation, long-term prognosis is excellent with overall survival closed to 100%. In this context, this review underlines the advantages and the drawbacks of the three attitudes but also the unknowns relative to each. Indeed, their knowledge is crucial for informing clearly and with an objective way. Without gold-standard, but with three therapeutic options available, informing our patients is the key so they make an informed choice in dialogue with the oncologist.

[Systematic review 2007: Primary treatments of testicular germ cell tumors after radical orchydectomy]

BACKGROUND

The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR)program in oncology, has been initiated in 1993 by the Federation of French Cancer Centres and is realised in collaboration with public and private clinicians,professional federations, scientific societies and since 2005 with National cancer institute. Its aims are to develop clinical practice guidelines (CPG), health technologic assessment reports and systematic reviews. By preparing the latter, it provides support to the scientific societies for the update of their CPG. In this context, the SOR, in collaboration with the French Association of Urology (AFU), has developed a systematic review on the management of nonseminomatous (NSTGC) or seminomatous(STGC) testicular germ cell cancer treated with primary radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy (CT) or surveillance (SV) after radical orchidectomy. Today, 80 % of patients with testicular germ cell cancer, including metastatic stage, can be cured. Actual challenges are to limit morbidity and late sequels of treatments while maintaining their therapeutic efficacy. Following this goal, surveillance, considered as a therapeutic option, is being broadly developed particularly for localised tumours.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize outcomes of patients with NSTGC or STGC treated with primary RT, CT or SV after radical orchidectomy.

SEARCH STRATEGY

A systematic literature search has been performed on Medline between 01/2004 and 08/2007 and completed by the consultation of evidence based medicine websites, experts citations and further relevant references identified from trials revealed by electronic searches.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trial (RCT), systematic reviews, and observational studies (prospective or retrospective cohorts) in patients with locally or advanced NSTGC or STGC treated with primary RT, CT or SV after radical orchidectomy have been included.

DATA ANALYSIS

Studies have been assessed for eligibility and quality by three independent reviewers. Authors were contacted to provide details of outstanding clinical trials. No quantitative analysis was initially planned because of the heterogeneity of experimental designs researched BIBLIOGRAPHICAL RESULTS: Twenty-nine trials have been included : 1 meta-analysis, 1 pooled analysis of 2 RCT, 4 non-inferiority RCT, 6 comparative studies (1 prospective, 5 retrospective) and 17 observational studies (7 prospective, 10 retrospective). Nineteen references were for NSTGC and 10 for STGC.

CONCLUSIONS

The choice of risk-adapted treatment for patients with locally NSTGC of the testis seems to be appropriate: SV for low risk patients and CT for others. For advanced stage, the suppression of bleomycine remains questionable. For local STGC, the choice of SV or CT versus RT needs to be confirmed by RCT with prolonged follow-up according to promising results in term of toxicity obtained with carboplatine or lower irradiation dose (20 Gy instead of 30 Gy). Finally, for advanced STGC, the utility of carboplatine single agent treatment versus cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy has not been proved.

[Ureteral-abdominal aortic fistula during the exchange of ureteral stenting: a case report]

We report a case of a patient with a fistula between the left ureter and abdominal aorta. The patient was a 44-year-old male who had undergone radiation therapy (intraoperative: 25 Gy, external beam: 50 Gy) and chemotherapy (CDDP: 250 mg) for retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis from seminoma. His postoperative course was complicated by stenosis of bilateral ureters, which were treated by indwelling double J-stents. Fifteen years after the operation, gross hematuria occurred from the left ureteral orifice when exchanging the left ureteral double J-stent. Computed tomographic scan demonstrated left ureteral-abdominal aortic fistula formation at the crossing point. Massive hemorrhage was suspected to have prompt fistula formation between the left ureter and the aorta. At exploration, there was a fistula of about 7 mm in diameter at the anterior surface of the aorta, and the stent was presumably inserted from it. The aortic fistula was successfully closed. In addition, the left ureter was ligated proximal to the fistula and percutaneous left nephrostomy were performed. His postoperative course was uneventful. We should be aware that uretero-arterial fistula can occur as a serious complication of ureteral catheter exchange after prolonged ureteral stenting and radiation therapy.

[Clinical analysis of primary mediastinal germ cell tumors]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical and pathological features, optimal treatment and prognostic factor in primary mediastinal germ cell tumors (PMGCT).

METHODS

The clinical presentation, pathological features and therapeutic results of 29 patients with PMGCT were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

All the 29 patients were male with a mean age of 26.1 +/- 9.6 years at diagnosis. All tumors were originated from the anterior mediastinum with a mean diameter of 16.0 +/- 5.2 cm. There were 5 (17.2%) primary mediastinal seminomas (PMSGCT) and 24 (82.8%) primary mediastinal nonseminomas (PMNSGCT) in this series. Dyspnea, cough and chest pain were the most common symptoms. Multimodality treatment consisting of cisplatin-based chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy was the principal therapy for PMGCT patients. The median survival of the 24 PMNSGCT patients was 19.0 months with 1-, 2-year survival rate of 65.3% and 28.1%, respectively; whereas the median survival of the 5 PMSGCT patients has not reached but longer with significant differences (P = 0.008). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that limited mediastinal disease at diagnosis (P = 0.004) and the use of cisplatin-based combined chemotherapy (P = 0.005) were independent good prognostic factors of PMNSGCT.

CONCLUSION

Primary mediastinal nonseminoma constitutes the most of primary mediastinal germ cell tumors. Cisplatin-based combined chemotherapy may be the most effective for the treatment of primary mediastinal germ cell tumors. The prognosis of primary mediastinal nonseminomas is significantly worse than that of primary mediastinal seminomas, and correlated with the extent of disease and chemotherapy.

La neuropathie motrice pure, une complication rare de la radiothérapie: trois observations et une revue de la littérature

BACKGROUND

Early or late neurological symptoms with lesions of peripheral or central nervous system can originated from radiotherapy.

METHODS

We report three cases of pure motor neuropathy in patients, which were treated by X-ray treatment several years ago.

RESULTS

Three patients (35-65 years old) have been presenting a pure motor neuropathy between 8.5 and 21 years after radiotherapy for Hodgkin disease (two cases) or testicular seminoma (one case). In each case, a proximodistal weakness with proximal predominance was observed and confirmed by the electromyographic findings. After a gradual worsening, we observed a clinical stability in patients treated by anticoagulant (one case) or pentoxifylline (two cases).

CONCLUSION

Pure motor neuropathy is a rare and late complication of the radiotherapy. A treatment with anticoagulant or pentoxifylline, with or without tocopherol, has been suggested.

[Management of clinical stage I testicular germ cell tumours]

Testicular germ-cell cancer is the most frequent malignancy in young men. In 80% of case no metastasis is observed at diagnosis. Orchidectomy is the initial therapeutic intervention. In case of a pure seminoma, three treatment options should be discussed after surgery : radiotherapy with a limited dose and volume, surveillance, and chemotherapy by single-agent carboplatin. In non-seminomatous germ cell tumour three options should also be considered : surveillance, chemotherapy (two cycles of the BEP regimen) or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. The strategy should be chosen taking into account predictive factors of relapse and the patient willing. Whatever the strategy, the cure rate is about 99%.

Long-term outcome of stage I seminoma

PURPOSE

To report on long-term outcomes among patients with stage I seminoma treated by orchiectomy with or without adjuvant radiation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of medical records of patients treated between 1974 and 2002 was undertaken to identify factors associated with patient outcomes.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 7.7 years, 80% (4 of 5) of the surveillance group experienced a disease relapse, while only 3% (2 of 70) in the radiation therapy group had disease relapse. This difference in relapse rates was statistically significant, but there was no significant difference in overall survival between the 2 groups. There was a significant relationship between patient age and disease relapse, whereby all of the relapses were seen in patients younger than 36 years at diagnosis (P = 0.03). Of the total 75 patients, 7 (9%) developed second primary tumors. Six of them (6 of 7) were treated with adjuvant radiation, and 1 patient (1 of 7) was on surveillance.

CONCLUSION

In this study, risk of relapse was significantly associated with surveillance and in patients younger than 36 years at diagnosis. These results suggest that surveillance can only be safely adopted for patients who can be followed up closely. We consider adjuvant radiation a very effective choice despite the low risk of associated secondary malignancies.

[Management of localized germ-cell tumours of the testis]

Stage 1 is currently the most frequent pattern at diagnosis of germ-cell tumours. Prognosis is excellent and different options are available after orchidectomy. The therapeutic choice should be taken after fair and extensive information regarding the limitations of each option therefore taking into account both predictive factors of relapse and patient individual willing. In case of pure seminoma, prophylactic radiotherapy directed to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, chemotherapy by single-agent carboplatin and surveillance with differed treatment at relapse are the three currently available attitudes. In non-seminomatous germ cell tumours three options should also be considered: surveillance (watchful waiting), chemotherapy by two cycles of BEP, or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.

Testicular cancer: seminoma

INTRODUCTION

More than half of painless solid swellings of the body of the testis are malignant, with a peak incidence in men aged 25-35 years. About half of testicular cancers are seminomas, which tend to affect older men and have a good prognosis.

METHODS AND OUTCOMES

We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of treatments in men with stage 1 seminoma (confined to testis) who have undergone orchidectomy? What are the effects of treatments in men with good-prognosis non-stage 1 seminoma who have undergone orchidectomy? What are the effects of maintenance chemotherapy in men in remission after orchidectomy and chemotherapy for good-prognosis non-stage 1 seminoma? What are the effects of treatments in men with intermediate-prognosis seminoma who have undergone orchidectomy? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library and other important databases up to April 2006 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

RESULTS

We found 27 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: adjuvant irradiation (20 Gy in 10 fractions to paraaortic area, 30 Gy in 15 fractions to paraaortic area and iliac nodes), chemotherapy (maintenance, adjuvant, single-agent carboplatin, three or four cycles, different number of cycles of adjuvant, using bleomycin added to vinblastine plus cisplatin, using etoposide plus cisplatin with or without bleomycin, adding higher doses to a two-drug chemotherapy regimen using cisplatin or vinblastine), radiotherapy (adjuvant, different drug combinations, 30-36 Gy in 15-18 fractions), surveillance.

Transient neurological adverse effects following low dose radiation therapy for early stage testicular seminoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to estimate the rate of neurological adverse effects following radiotherapy for testicular seminoma and to disclose possible dose-related effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All seminoma patients (n=346) treated 1980-2001 at our department with radiotherapy as the only treatment modality following orchiectomy constitute the study group (median follow-up 10 years). Since 1980, clinical data including possible side effects have systematically been recorded in these patients. These records were used to identify men with possible neurological adverse effects. Univariate logistic regression was used to estimate dose-related effects.

RESULTS

Overall, 11 men (3.2%) with neurological symptoms probably related to radiotherapy were identified. Seven men treated with 25.2-36 Gray presented with sensory symptoms about 2 months following radiotherapy. These symptoms resolved in all but one after 1-3 months. The remaining four men (dose 36-40 Gray) had motor impairment which lasted at least one year, but none had persistent pareses at long-term follow-up. There was a statistically significant (p=0.02) increase in rate of motor symptoms with higher dose.

CONCLUSIONS

Although motor impairment is unlikely to occur at current standard doses for seminomas, physicians should be ware of the sensory symptoms these men may exhibit.

[Primary mediastinal seminoma. Report of three cases]

BACKGROUND

Primary mediastinal seminomas (PMS) are rare tumors that are morphologically similar to their testicular counterparts but may have different biologic behavior due to their particular anatomical location.

AIM

New cases report of PMS CASES: Three new cases of primary mediastinal seminoma are presented. The patients were men aged of 16, 33 and 47 years. Their clinical symptoms included cough, dyspnea, chest pain and superior vena cava syndrome. None of the patients had a previous history of testicular neoplasm or tumor elsewhere. Mediastinoscopic biopsy was performed and histological examination results revealed a seminoma. Immunohistochemical showed membranous staining with placental alkaline phosphatase in the three cases. Chemotherapy has largely replaced surgical resection and radiotherapy as the initial treatment in patients with mediastinal seminoma.

[Fertility and testicular function in a patient with germ cell extragonadal tumor. A report of a case]

Males are affected from primary extragonadal germ cell tumors with a frequency of 2 to 5%. There is a high incidence of infertility of more than 60% and most of the cases have azoospermia due to testicular damage. The hormonal profile of these patients shows normal luteinizing hormone, normal follicle stimulating hormone and normal testosterone and estradiol. We communicate the case of a male who had a primary retroperitoneal germ cell tumor with a low title of chorionic gonadotropin, elevated estradiol and normal testosterone, prolactin and seminogram. Before beginning treatment with chemotherapy, his wife became pregnant delivering twins, both males. The patient was treated with chemo and radiotherapy after which he became azoospermic with an increase in both luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating, decreased levels of estradiol and without alteration in prolactin and testosterone. The pituitary testicle axis was affected by the tumor, but the microenvironment of the testicles did not seem to be damaged only after initiating treatment.

Low-dose radiotherapy for Stage I seminoma—long-term results

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to review retrospectively the results of low-dose radiotherapy for Stage I seminoma using four different fractionation schedules and target volume definitions.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 191 patients underwent irradiation for histologically proven Stage I seminoma after undergoing an inguinal orchiectomy. Fractionation schedules were used one after another as follows: Total dose 30 Gy (dose/fraction 1.5 Gy, 16 patients), total dose 25.5 Gy (dose/fraction 1.5 Gy, 62 patients), total dose 20 Gy (dose/fraction 2 Gy, 69 patients), total dose 26 Gy (dose/fraction 2 Gy, 29 patients). The remaining 12 patients were excluded from this study. In the same period the target volume was gradually reduced. In 1983 the paraaortic, pelvic and inguinal regions were irradiated; later the target volume was reduced to the paraaortic region exclusively.

RESULTS

Overall survival and event-free survival were identical in all groups ranging from 95% to 100% /5 years. Three patients experienced a lymph node metastasis during follow-up, 3 patients a distant metastasis to the lung and the bones. Mild acute side effects were noted in 8% to 15% of the patients, and very mild long-term side effects in 1% to 5% of patients. Multivariate analysis showed no prognostic significance of total dose, dose per fraction, or target volume. In univariate analysis, a higher frequency of acute side effects to the skin and the bowel was related to a higher total dose, and an elevated frequency of nausea was related to a higher daily dose per fraction.

CONCLUSION

Using lower doses and limiting the target volume to the paraaortic region exclusively did not result in a worse prognosis in our patient series.

Advances in the treatment of testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is the most common solid tumour in young men, and the treatment of testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) has been called a success story of medical oncology, germ cell cancer being regarded as the "model of a curable neoplasm". Even with metastatic disease, high cure rates can be achieved: the overall 5-year survival for all stages of TGCT is approximately 80%. Today, elaborate systems for prognostic evaluation for gonadal and extragonadal germ cell tumours facilitate the choice of the most appropriate therapy for individual patients. In doing so, the ultimate goal of treatment is tumour-free survival for any patient with TGCT. This goal has already been reached for >99% of the patients with early-stage tumours, as well as for the majority of patients with advanced disease (56% of patients with metastases are considered to have a good prognosis at the time of diagnosis; the 5-year survival rate for this group is 90%). However, patients with 'intermediate' or 'poor' prognosis at the time of diagnosis, as well as patients with relapsed disease after cisplatin-containing therapy, still have an unsatisfactorily low 5-year survival rate after standard therapy with PEB (cisplatin, etoposide, bleomycin) of only 80%, 45-55% and 20-25%, respectively.Therefore, our goals must be (i) to limit acute and chronic toxicity by avoiding overtreatment for patients with localised disease and/or good prognosis with advanced disease; and (ii) to identify patients with poor prognosis and treat them in specialised centres, where not only is optimal interdisciplinary care available but new treatment strategies are being applied. For example, tandem high-dose chemotherapy regimens might be effective in achieving higher cure rates in these patients.

[Integrated treatment for azoospermia caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma: a case report]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate a therapeutic method for male infertility caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma.

METHODS

A case of azoospermia caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma was reported and the Chinese medicine Jiaweishuiluerxiandan was used as a major therapy for 3 years.

RESULTS

The patient's health condition was improved dramatically two years after being treated by the Chinese medicine but no sperm was found in his semen. However, three years after the treatment, his spermatozoon density was recovered from zero to 2.0 x 10(6)/ml with normal morphology. His sperm was subsequently used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which made his spouse pregnant successfully, and an healthy male infant was born by caesarean birth.

CONCLUSION

Chinese medicine is a successful try at treating male infertility caused by radiotherapy after surgical treatment of spermatocytoma. For those who have failed to get their sperm frozen before surgery, Chinese medicine is a choice for remediation.