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Medical Literature and Research Related to Testicular Cancer |
When the TCRC was created, it was difficult to find good information on testicular cancer, let alone useful medical articles. It made sense to maintain a large collection of individual papers organized by subject. Today there are far more articles than anyone could reasonably keep up with, and searchable medical databases make it much easier to find current research.
This page now provides direct searches of the medical literature along with a selected collection of landmark papers, important studies that changed the way testicular cancer is treated, and useful modern reviews. With a few exceptions for truly classic articles, the newer papers listed here are available as free full text.
These articles are primarily intended for physicians, researchers and medical students, although interested patients may also find them useful. Current treatment guidelines, pathology standards, imaging recommendations, statistics and clinical trials are listed separately on the Physician Oriented Links page.
Additional specialized material can be found in the sections on Case Studies, Tumor Markers, Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors, and Images.
- PubMed: Testicular Cancer - Search the current medical literature for testicular cancer.
- PubMed: Testicular Germ Cell Tumors - A more specific search focused on germ cell tumors of the testis.
- PubMed: Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors - Literature on mediastinal, retroperitoneal and other extragonadal germ cell tumors.
- PubMed: Testicular Cancer Surveillance - Current literature on active surveillance and follow-up.
- PubMed: Testicular Cancer and RPLND - Surgical literature on retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.
- PubMed: Testicular Cancer Survivorship - Long-term toxicity, second malignancies, cardiovascular risk, quality of life and other survivorship issues.
- PubMed: Testicular Cancer and miR-371a-3p - Current research on microRNA biomarkers for germ cell tumors.
- Einhorn LH, Donohue JP. Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, vinblastine, and bleomycin combination chemotherapy in disseminated testicular cancer. Ann Intern Med. 1977. - One of the landmark reports establishing cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy as curative treatment for disseminated testicular cancer. Classic Article
- Williams SD, Birch R, Einhorn LH, et al. Treatment of disseminated germ-cell tumors with cisplatin, bleomycin, and either vinblastine or etoposide. N Engl J Med. 1987. - The randomized trial that established BEP as preferable to the older PVB regimen while preserving cure rates and reducing toxicity. Classic Article
- International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group. International Germ Cell Consensus Classification: a prognostic factor-based staging system for metastatic germ cell cancers. J Clin Oncol. 1997. - The landmark paper establishing the IGCCCG good-, intermediate-, and poor-risk classification for metastatic germ cell tumors. Classic Article
- Foster RS, Donohue JP. Nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. Urol Clin North Am. 1993. - A classic description of the development of nerve-sparing RPLND to preserve ejaculation while maintaining oncologic control. Classic Article
- Donohue JP, Thornhill JA, Foster RS, et al. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy for clinical stage A testis cancer: modifications of technique and impact on ejaculation. J Urol. 1993. - Documents the evolution of RPLND technique at Indiana University and its effect on preservation of ejaculatory function. Classic Article
- Masterson TA, Cary C. The Use of Modified Templates in Early and Advanced Stage Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumor. 2018. - A modern review of how RPLND templates evolved to balance oncologic control against surgical morbidity. Free Full Text
- Warde P, Gospodarowicz MK, Goodman PJ, et al. Results of a policy of surveillance in stage I testicular seminoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1993. - An important early report showing that many men with stage I seminoma could be managed after orchiectomy with surveillance rather than routine adjuvant treatment. Classic Article
- Sogani PC, Perrotti M, Herr HW, et al. Clinical stage I testis cancer: long-term outcome of patients on surveillance. J Urol. 1998. - Long-term results from the Memorial Sloan Kettering surveillance program for stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. Classic Article
- Warde P, Jewett MAS. Surveillance for stage I testicular seminoma. Is it a good option? Urol Clin North Am. 1998. - A classic discussion of surveillance as an alternative to routine radiotherapy at a time when adjuvant treatment remained common. Classic Article
- Fossa SD, Horwich A, Russell JM, et al. Optimal planning target volume for stage I testicular seminoma: a Medical Research Council randomized trial. J Clin Oncol. 1999. - The MRC TE10 trial helped establish that radiation fields could be reduced while maintaining excellent disease control. Classic De-escalation Trial
- Jones WG, Fossa SD, Mead GM, et al. Randomized trial of 30 versus 20 Gy in the adjuvant treatment of stage I testicular seminoma. J Clin Oncol. 2005. - The MRC TE18/EORTC trial demonstrated that radiation dose could be reduced from 30 Gy to 20 Gy with similar disease control and less short-term morbidity. Classic De-escalation Trial
- Oliver RTD, Mead GM, Rustin GJS, et al. Randomized trial of carboplatin versus radiotherapy for stage I seminoma: mature results of MRC TE19/EORTC 30982. J Clin Oncol. 2011. - A major trial showing that single-agent carboplatin could provide an alternative to routine adjuvant radiotherapy for stage I seminoma. Classic De-escalation Trial
- Daugaard G, Gundgaard MG, Mortensen MS, et al. Surveillance for stage I nonseminoma testicular cancer: outcomes and long-term follow-up in a population-based cohort. J Clin Oncol. 2014. - A large population-based surveillance study supporting surveillance as a safe management strategy for stage I nonseminoma. Major Surveillance Study
- Cullen M, Huddart R, Joffe J, et al. The 111 Study: One Cycle of BEP as Adjuvant Chemotherapy in High-risk Stage I Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors. Eur Urol. 2020. - A prospective trial showing that one cycle of adjuvant BEP can provide very low recurrence rates while substantially reducing chemotherapy exposure compared with two cycles. Free Full Text
- Treatment options in stage I seminoma. 2023. - A contemporary review of surveillance, carboplatin and radiotherapy that illustrates the long-term shift away from routine adjuvant treatment for stage I seminoma. Free Full Text
- Gariscsak PJ, Anson-Cartwright L, Atenafu EG, et al. Safety of Minimizing Intensity of Follow-up on Active Surveillance for Clinical Stage I Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Eur Urol Open Sci. 2022. - Four decades of Princess Margaret experience showing that substantially reducing visits, laboratory testing and imaging did not increase disease extent or treatment burden at relapse. Free Full Text
- Gillessen S, Sauve N, Collette L, et al. Predicting Outcomes in Men With Metastatic Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors: Results From the IGCCCG Update Consortium. J Clin Oncol. 2021. - Modern validation and refinement of the IGCCCG classification using 9,728 men treated with contemporary cisplatin- and etoposide-based therapy. Free Full Text
- Beyer J, Collette L, Sauve N, et al. Survival and New Prognosticators in Metastatic Seminoma: Results From the IGCCCG-Update Consortium. J Clin Oncol. 2021. - The companion modern analysis for metastatic seminoma, documenting improved outcomes and identifying LDH as an additional prognostic factor. Free Full Text
- Tandstad T, Kollmannsberger CK, Roth BJ, et al. Practice Makes Perfect: The Rest of the Story in Testicular Cancer as a Model Curable Neoplasm. J Clin Oncol. 2017. - Discusses the incremental improvements in diagnosis, treatment and follow-up that have made testicular cancer a model curable malignancy, and emphasizes the importance of collaboration with experienced, high-volume germ cell tumor centers. Free Full Text
- Chovanec M, Adra N, Abu Zaid M, Abonour R, Einhorn LH. High-dose chemotherapy for relapsed testicular germ cell tumours. Nat Rev Urol. 2023. - A contemporary Indiana University review of high-dose chemotherapy and conventional-dose salvage approaches for relapsed germ cell tumors. The article discusses durable cure rates, patient selection and the continuing controversy over optimal initial salvage treatment.
- Vaughn DJ, Gignac GA, Meadows AT. Long-Term Medical Care of Testicular Cancer Survivors. Ann Intern Med. 2002. - An important early review focused specifically on the long-term medical care of testicular cancer survivors, including late treatment effects, late relapse, second cancers, fertility and psychosocial issues. Free registration with the publisher may be required to read the full article. Classic Survivorship Article
- Fung C, Dinh P Jr, Ardeshir-Rouhani-Fard S, et al. Toxicities Associated with Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Long-Term Testicular Cancer Survivors. Adv Urol. 2018. - Comprehensive review of cardiovascular disease, second malignancies, neurotoxicity, ototoxicity, renal toxicity, pulmonary toxicity, hypogonadism, infertility and other long-term treatment effects. Free Full Text
- Khan MR, Sheehan PK, Bazin A, et al. Late side effects of testicular cancer and treatment: a comprehensive review. 2024. - A recent review of medical, reproductive, metabolic and psychosocial late effects in testicular cancer survivors. Free Full Text
- Nappi L, Thi M, Lum A, et al. Developing a Highly Specific Biomarker for Germ Cell Malignancies: Plasma miR371 Expression Across the Germ Cell Malignancy Spectrum. J Clin Oncol. 2019. - A major prospective study demonstrating the high sensitivity and specificity of circulating miR-371 for active germ cell malignancy across different stages and clinical settings. Authors include Lucia Nappi, Craig Nichols and Christian Kollmannsberger. Free Full Text
- Nestler T, et al. Detection of Recurrence through microRNA-371a-3p Serum Levels in a Follow-up of Stage I Testicular Germ Cell Tumors. Clin Cancer Res. 2024. - Prospective multicenter surveillance study of 258 stage I patients showing excellent performance of serum miR-371a-3p for detecting relapse, including 100% sensitivity and 96.3% specificity in this cohort. Free Full Text
- Physician Oriented Links - Current treatment guidelines, consensus statements, pathology protocols, imaging guidance, statistics, clinical trials and expert working groups.
- Tumor Markers - Information and research on AFP, hCG, LDH, miR-371a-3p and other germ cell tumor markers.
- Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumors - Specialized information on mediastinal, retroperitoneal and other extragonadal germ cell tumors.
- Case Studies - Reports and resources involving unusual presentations and difficult clinical situations.
- Images - Professional imaging and pathology resources.
