Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) patients and survivors have excess mortality compared to the general male population, but relative survival (RS) has been scarcely studied. We investigated causes of excess mortality and their impact on RS among men diagnosed with TGCT in Norway, 1953-2015.
Using registry data (n = 9541), standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and RS were calculated. By December 31st, 2015, 816 testicular cancer (TC) and 1508 non-TC deaths had occurred (non-TC SMR: 1.36). Within five years of TGCT diagnosis, 80% were TC deaths. Non-TC second cancer (SC) caused 65% of excess non-TC deaths, of which 34% from gastric, pancreatic or bladder cancer. SC SMRs remained elevated ≥26 years of follow-up. In localized TGCT diagnosed >1979, SC SMRs were only elevated after seminoma. Cardiovascular disease caused 9% and other causes 26% of excess non-TC deaths, of which 58% from gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders. RS continuously declined with follow-up. TGCT patients diagnosed >1989 had superior five-year TC-specific RS (98.3%), lower non-TC SMR (1.21), but elevated SMRs for several SCs, infections, Alzheimer's disease, genitourinary disease and suicide. A limitation was lack of individual treatment data.
RS declines mainly from TC deaths <5 years after TGCT diagnosis. Later, excess SC mortality becomes particularly important, reducing RS even ≥26 years. Radiotherapy; standard adjuvant seminoma treatment 1980-2007, is likely an important contributor, as are chemotherapy and possibly innate susceptibilities. Vigilant long-term follow-up, including psychosocial aspects, is important. Further research should focus on identifying survivor risk groups and optimizing treatment.
PloS one. 2019 Dec 18*** epublish ***
Øivind Kvammen, Tor Åge Myklebust, Arne Solberg, Bjørn Møller, Olbjørn Harald Klepp, Sophie Dorothea Fosså, Torgrim Tandstad
Department of Oncology, Ålesund Hospital, Ålesund, Norway., Department of Research and Innovation, Møre and Romsdal Hospital Trust, Ålesund, Norway., Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway., Department of Registration, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway., National Advisory Unit on Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, The Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.