Long-term survival in patients with germ cell testicular cancer: A population-based competing-risks regression analysis

BackgroundsIncidence of secondary malignancies and cardiovascular diseases among testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) survivors is higher compared to the general population. We sought to describe the rates of other-cancer (OCM), non-cancer related (NCRM), and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) among men with TGCT.MethodsUsing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, 31,330 patients with a primary diagnosis of TGCT between 1973 and 2009 were identified. The primary endpoints comprised of 15-year CSM, OCM, and NCRM rates. Survival rates were stratified according to histology (seminoma vs. non-seminoma), median age (<34 vs. ≥34 years old), and disease stage (localized vs. regional vs. distant). Competing-risks Poisson regression methodologies were performed.ResultsFor seminoma patients, the rates of CSM at 15 years increased with advancing stage (0.4–12.6%; P < 0.001), but varies little with age. In contrast, the rates of OCM (0.4–7.9%) and NCRM (2.9–8.9%) at 15 years increased with advancing stage and age (all P < 0.001). For non-seminoma patients, the 15-year CSM rates increased with advancing stage and age (1.9–24.4%; all P < 0.001). For the same time point, the rates of OCM (0.3–11.4%) and NCRM (2.4–8.0%) also increased with age and stage (all P ≤ 0.001).ConclusionsThe risk of dying from secondary malignancies or other causes significantly increases with advancing stage and age at diagnosis among TGCT survivors. Such information can help provide patients and physicians with better screening strategies, follow-up protocols, and mental preparedness for such undesirable effects.