Semen quality from patients affected by seminomatous and non-seminomatous testicular tumor

Abstract

Testicular cancer is considered a rare disease affecting approximately 1% to 2% of the male population. This neoplasm has a cure rate of over 95%; as a result, a major concern is the future of fertility of carriers from this disease. There are several histological subtypes of testicular tumors; however, the Testicular Germ Cell Tumors (TGCTs), comprising both seminoma and non-seminoma tumors, are considered the main subtypes of testicular neoplasms. TGCT are characterized by being a solid tumor that mostly affects young men aged between 15 and 40 years old. While TGCT subtypes may have an invasive potential, seminoma subtype does not affect other cells rather than germ cells, while non-seminomas have more invasive properties and can achieve somatic cells; thus, having a more aggressive nature. This research intends to review the literature regarding information about sperm parameters, correlating the data found in those studies to the subfertility and infertility of patients with TCGTs. Furthermore, it will also correlate the data to the non-seminoma and seminoma histological subtypes from pre-and post-cancer therapy. PubMed databases were used. Searched keywords included: seminoma AND non-seminoma; male infertility; germ cell tumor; chemotherapy AND radiotherapy. Only articles published in English were considered. Current studies demonstrate that both TGCT subtypes promote deleterious effects on semen quality resulting in decreased sperm concentration, declined sperm total motility and an increase in the morphology alterations. However, findings suggest that the non-seminoma subtype effects are more pronounced and deleterious. More studies will be necessary to clarify the behavior of seminoma and non-seminoma tumors implicating the reproductive health of male patients.

Predicting malignancy in small testicular lesions

“…However, with ultrasound testing (US) popularization, more and more small non-palpable testicular tumors are being detected and therefore, some benign lesions may be at risk of being over-treated with radical orchiectomy. This treatment might lead to some adverse effects, including increased risk of infertility [ 2 , 3 ] and gonadal dysfunction [ 4 ]. On the other hand, small non-palpable testicular lesions (STL) ≤20 mm have been reported to be benign in up to 80% of cases [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Preliminary Investigation on the Involvement of Cytoskeleton-Related Proteins, DAAM1 and PREP, in Human Testicular Disorders

“…Fortunately, TCs, also in metastatic form, are highly sensitive to the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin, increasing the overall cure rate up to 90–95% [ 35 , 36 ]. On the other hand, both the disease per se and the used therapies may have, therefore, a reduced sperm quantity and quality, leading to sub- infertility [ 18 , 36 ] and then to the failure of the reproductive success and species survival. Infertility, which affects 15–20% of couples worldwide, and of which men contribute roughly 50%, may be also produced by a wide plethora of causes, including genetical, pathological, and environmental factors.…”

“…Growing evidence from the literature is pointing out that infertility is one of the consequences of TCs [ 18 ]; on the other hand, many other testicular non-neoplastic conditions may lead to infertility or subfertility. One of these is the Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SOS); indeed, it has been estimated that 5% to 10% of cases of men’s infertility between 20 to 40 years old could be attributable to SOS [ 19 ].…”

A bibliometric analysis of testicular germ cell tumor research from 2000 to 2020

“…Cluster 1 is related to TGCT-related infertility. TGCT patients have high risks of male infertility due to the decrease of sperm concentration, the decrease of total sperm motility and the increase of morphological alterations ( 25 , 26 ). Because the fertility status of TGCT patients after treatment is difficult to predict, researchers consider it is necessary for extracting testicular sperm and cryopreservation of spermatozoa ( 27 ).…”