Pre-orchiectomy semen analysis in patients with testicular germ cell tumours and comparison with healthy men and with patients with other malignancies.

Purpose Subfertility is a well-known aftermath of treatment of testicular germ cell tumours (GCTs). Growing evidence suggests reduced semen quality also before therapy. The present study aimed to evaluate pre-orchiectomy semen parameters in GCT patients and to compare the results with controls.

Correction: Expression and Localization of Lung Surfactant Proteins in Human Testis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Undetectable PSA predicts outcome after salvage radiotherapy for biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy.

Background And Purpose: Salvage radiotherapy (SRT) is a curative treatment option in patients with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP). Undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) < 0.1 ng/mL following SRT predicts biochemical progression-free survival (BPFS).

Misuse of tumor marker levels leads to an insufficient International Germ Cell Consensus Classification (IGCCCG) risk group assignment and impaired treatment.

Background: Metastatic germ cell tumors of the testis (GCTs) are risk-stratified according to the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) classification system. This risk classification is based on anatomical risk factors as well as tumor marker levels of AFP, HCG, and LDH assessed pre-chemotherapy after orchiectomy treatment. An incorrect classification is possible when pre-orchiectomy marker levels are used, possibly resulting in over- or undertreatment of patients.

Testicular germ cell tumours' clinical stage I: comparison of surveillance with adjuvant treatment strategies regarding recurrence rates and overall survival-a systematic review.

Purpose: Testicular germ cell tumours (GCTs) represent the most common malignancy in young adult males with two thirds of all cases presenting with clinical stage I (CSI). Active surveillance is the management modality mostly favoured by current guidelines. This systematic review assesses the treatment results in CSI patients concerning recurrence rate and overall survival in non-seminoma (NS) and pure seminoma (SE) resulting from surveillance in comparison to adjuvant strategies.

Prognostic factors in patients with clinical stage I nonseminoma-beyond lymphovascular invasion: a systematic review.

Objective: To systematically evaluate evidence on prognostic factors for tumor recurrence in clinical stage I nonseminoma patients other than lymphovascular invasion (LVI).

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search in the biomedical databases Medline (via Ovid) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (search period January 2010 to February 2021) for full text publications in English and German language, reporting on retro- or prospectively assessed prognostic factors for tumor recurrence in patients with stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumors.

Results: Our literature search yielded eleven studies reporting on 20 potential prognostic factors.

How to classify, diagnose, treat and follow-up extragonadal germ cell tumors? A systematic review of available evidence.

Purpose: To present the current evidence and the development of studies in recent years on the management of extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGCT).

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline and the Cochrane Library. Studies within the search period (January 2010 to February 2021) that addressed the classification, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and follow-up of extragonadal tumors were included.

Impact of Dose Escalation on the Efficacy of Salvage Radiotherapy for Recurrent Prostate Cancer-A Risk-Adjusted, Matched-Pair Analysis.

Previous randomized trials have not provided conclusive evidence about dose escalations and associated toxicities for salvage radiotherapy (SRT) in prostate cancer. Here, we retrospectively analyzed whether dose escalations influenced progression-free survival in 554 patients that received salvage radiotherapy for relapses or persistently elevated prostate cancer antigen (PSA) after a radical prostatectomy. Patients received SRT between 1997 and 2017 at two University Hospitals in Germany.

Can magnetic resonance imaging replace conventional computerized tomography for follow-up of patients with testicular cancer? A systematic review.

Purpose: Follow-up protocols for patients with testicular cancer (TC) have significantly reduced the number of cross-sectional imaging studies to reduce radiation exposure. At present, it is unclear whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could replace conventional computerized tomography (CT) imaging. The objective of this study is to summarize the scientific evidence on this topic and to review guideline recommendations with regard to the use of MRI.

Contemporary options and future perspectives: three examples highlighting the challenges in testicular cancer imaging.

Purpose: One of the main issues in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) management is to reduce the necessary amount of treatment to achieve cure. Excess treatment burden may arise from late diagnosis of the primary as well as from false positive or negative staging results. Correct imaging is of paramount importance for successful management of TGCT.

Therapy of clinical stage IIA and IIB seminoma: a systematic review.

Purpose: The optimal treatment for clinical stage (CS) IIA/IIB seminomas is still controversial. We evaluated current treatment options.

Methods: A systematic review was performed.

[non-metastasised clincial stage I testicular germ cell tumours : Patient information, suitability and limitations of surveillance].

Background: Surveillance is the most frequently used treatment option in testicular germ cell tumour (TGCT) patients in nonmetastasised clinical stage I (cSI).

Objectives: Presentation of indications for surveillance, the process of individual patient's advice and the limitations of surveillance.

Materials And Methods: An overview of the current literature is given, including basic research, systemic reviews and expert recommendations.

The prognostic significance of lactate dehydrogenase levels in seminoma patients with advanced disease: an analysis by the Global Germ Cell Tumor Collaborative Group (G3).

Purpose: The prognostic significance of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients with metastatic seminoma is not defined. We investigated the prognostic impact of LDH levels prior to first-line systemic treatment and other clinical characteristics in this subset of patients.

Methods: Files from two registry studies and one single-institution database were analyzed retrospectively.

Management of Germ Cell Tumours of the Testes in Adult Patients: German Clinical Practice Guideline, PART II - Recommendations for the Treatment of Advanced, Recurrent, and Refractory Disease and Extragonadal and Sex Cord/Stromal Tumours and for the Management of Follow-Up, Toxicity, Quality of Life, Palliative Care, and Supportive Therapy.

Objectives: We developed the first German evidence- and consensus-based clinical guideline on diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of germ cell tumours (GCT) of the testes in adult patients. We present the guideline content in 2 separate publications. The present second part summarizes therecommendations for the treatment of advanced disease stages and for the management of follow-up and late effects.

Management of Germ Cell Tumours of the Testis in Adult Patients. German Clinical Practice Guideline Part I: Epidemiology, Classification, Diagnosis, Prognosis, Fertility Preservation, and Treatment Recommendations for Localized Stages.

Introduction: This is the first German evidence- and consensus-based clinical guideline on diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up on germ cell tumours (GCTs) of the testis in adult patients. We present the guideline content in two publications. Part I covers the topic's background, methods, epidemiology, classification systems, diagnostics, prognosis, and treatment recommendations for the localized stages.

Major complications of post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in a contemporary cohort of patients with testicular cancer and a review of the literature.

Background: Post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (pc-RPLND) is one cornerstone in the clinical management of patients with nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumours (GCT). A wide range of complication rates in this type of surgery is reported so far. We retrospectively evaluated the frequency of major complications by using the Clavien-Dindo classification and analysed the influence of various clinical factors on complication rates in pc-RPLND.

Human chorionic gonadotropin-positive seminoma patients: A registry compiled by the global germ cell tumor collaborative group (G3).

Background: The prognostic role of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) serum levels in seminoma patients remains uncertain. This observational study evaluates the prognostic impact of tumour marker levels, and other clinicopathological findings, in hCG-positive seminoma patients.

Methods: Seminoma patients with serum hCG levels above normal at first diagnosis were eligible for recruitment.

Leydig-cell tumour of the testis: retrospective analysis of clinical and therapeutic features in 204 cases.

Purpose: Leydig-cell tumours (LCT) of the testis are poorly understood clinically. The aim of this report is to analyse the clinical characteristics of LCT in a large patient sample and to compare these findings with corresponding data of germ-cell tumours (GCT).

Methods: In a sample of 208 patients treated during 1995-2017 in 33 institutions, the following characteristics were registered: age, presenting symptoms, primary tumour size, testis-sparing surgery (TSS) or orchiectomy, malignancy, laterality, medical history, and outcome.

Endogenous and Exogenous Melatonin Exposure Attenuates Hepatic MT Melatonin Receptor Protein Expression in Rat.

Melatonin receptors are highly relevant for the hepatoprotective effects of the pineal hormone melatonin after experimental hemorrhagic shock in rats. In this study, we sought to determine the spatial expression pattern and a putative regulation of two melatonin receptors, membrane bound type 1 and 2 (MT and MT), in the liver of rats. In a male rat model (Sprague Dawley) of hemorrhage and resuscitation, we investigated the gene expression and protein of MT and MT in rat liver by utilizing real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, a western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry.

Adjuvant carboplatin therapy in patients with clinical stage 1 testicular seminoma: is long-term morbidity increased?

Purpose: Clinical stage (CS) 1 testicular seminoma is cured in almost 100% of cases following either retroperitoneal radiotherapy, carboplatin monotherapy, or surveillance strategies. Little is known about potential long-term effects of carboplatin. We, therefore, examined late sequelae of this drug in seminoma patients.

Serum Levels of MicroRNA-371a-3p (M371 Test) as a New Biomarker of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: Results of a Prospective Multicentric Study.

Purpose: Previous studies suggested that serum levels of microRNA (miR)-371a-3p (so-called M371 test) have a much higher sensitivity and specificity than the classic markers of testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) and are applicable toward both seminoma and nonseminoma. We sought to confirm the usefulness of this test as a novel biomarker for GCT.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective, multicentric study, serum samples of 616 patients with testicular GCTs and 258 male controls were examined for serum levels of miRNA-371a-3p (miR levels) by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.