Metastatic surgery in testis cancer

Management of Germ Cell Tumors in Pediatric Patients

Germ cell tumors arise from primordial germ cells. Most develop in the gonads or along midline structures of the body. Genetic aberrations leading to disruption in the molecular signaling responsible for primordial germ cell migration early in development may provide rationale for why germ cell tumors originate in extragonadal locations. Establishing best practices for treating pediatric germ cell tumors remains an area of active investigation. Recent advances focused on limiting toxicities of therapy, identifying new therapies for relapsed and refractory tumors, defining best practices for surgical staging and resection, and developing novel methods to monitor for disease relapse.

Surgical Management of Genitourinary Cancer Liver Metastases

Genitourinary cancers are common. Liver metastases from genitourinary cancers are uncommon; isolated liver metastasis is rare. Liver resection in select patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma can lead to prolonged survival. Patients with metachronous and low-burden disease are most likely to benefit. Chemotherapy is first-line treatment of metastatic germ cell tumors. Liver resection is dependent on germ cell lineage and initial response to chemotherapy. Prognosis with liver metastases from prostate cancer is poor; liver-only lesions are rare. Liver resection generally is not indicated. Cumulative experience with liver resection for metastatic bladder cancer is limited. Liver metastases are poor prognostic indicators for metastasectomy.

Locoregional surgical treatment improves the prognosis in patients with primary metastatic testicular cancer with a single bone or brain metastasis

The present study investigated the clinical significance afforded by locoregional surgery in improving the prognosis of primary metastatic testicular cancer (pMTC). The population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database was used as the primary source of data in the present study. Stratification analysis was employed to identify the effects of testicular surgery on testicular cancer-specific survival and overall survival. Propensity score matching and Cox regression models were then employed to find and evaluate the extent of improvements to the survival of patients with pMTC by testicular surgery. The median testicular cancer-specific survival and overall survival in the surgery group were 10% higher than those in the group without surgery. Testicular surgery was demonstrated to have provided a survival advantage for patients with a single metastasis in the bone or brain, but not in the liver or lung. When combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, surgery significantly improved the survival of patients. However, according to the surgical outcome based on molecular subtypes, when deciding on the surgery for patients with metastatic testicular cancer, only human chorionic gonadotropin and lactate dehydrogenase, and not α-fetoprotein should be considered. Surgery serves a significant role in the management of non-seminoma, whereas its role in the management of seminoma is far more limited. The effects of locoregional surgery have been neglected when treating patients with pMTC. Surgical procedures should be considered more seriously when planning combination treatments for patients with pMTC with a single bone or brain metastasis.

Management of residual masses in testicular germ cell tumors

INTRODUCTION

About 50% of all patients with advanced testicular cancer demonstrate residual retroperitoneal or extraretroperitoneal masses. About two thirds of the masses harbour necrosis/fibrosis only whereas as about 10% and 40% harbour vital cancer or teratoma. Appropriate therapy will result in a high cure rate if performed properly. Areas covered: This review article covers the indication, the surgical technique and the oncological outcome of PC-RPLND and resection of extraretroperitoneal residual masses following chemotherapy in patients with advanced testis cancer. Expert commentary: Postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) plays an integral part of the multimodality treatment in patients with advanced testicular germ cell tumours. Patients with nonseminomas, residual masses < 1cm and good prognosis can undergo active surveillance. In all other cases, PC-RPLND with or without resection of adjacent organs needs to be performed for curative intent. PC-RPLND requires a complex surgical approach and should be performed in experienced, tertiary referral centres only.