Onkológia 2/2016

Treating stage I testicular cancer

Stage I testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are highly curable neoplasms. The approach to stage I TGCTs treatment is complex and interdisciplinary approach is required. Standard options after radical orchiectomy include active surveillance, radiation therapy, or 1-2 cycles of carboplatin for seminoma and active surveillance, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) or 1- 2 cycles of bleomycin plus etoposide plus cisplatin (BEP) for non-seminoma. Decisions about treatment choices should be handled carefully because virtually all patients with clinical stage I testicular TGCTs are cured of their disease. Approximately, 99% of men with stage I disease will become cancer survivors and efforts of clinicians should be directed towards limiting late treatment consequences. Majority of patients is cured with orchiectomy alone. However, the management of clinical stage I TGCTs remains controversial amongst experts at high volume centers throughout the world.

Keywords: seminoma, non-seminoma, stage I, adjuvant treatment, active surveillance