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Following orchiectomy, patients with clinical stage I (CSI) testicular seminoma may be managed by active surveillance (S) or adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy or chemotherapy). In view of the published data on long-term toxicity, especially second malignant neoplasms (SMNs), adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) is currently no longer recommended as an adjuvant therapy option for these patients. The purpose of our recent study was to compare the impact of two selected treatment approaches - S versus adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) on the survival of patients with CSI testicular seminoma. This cross-sectional study analyzed a total of 139 patients collected at a single center between 10/2011-5/2020, with CSI testicular seminoma, stratified into two groups according to risk-adapted therapeutic approaches. In the S group (low-risk - without rete testis invasion - RTI, primary tumor size <4 cm), consisting of 77 patients, who underwent S, relapse occurred in 10 (13.0%) patients after a mean follow-up of 14.3 months. In the ACT group (high-risk - RTI and/or primary tumor size >4 cm), consisting of 62 patients, who were treated with ACT, relapse occurred in 5 (8.1%) patients after a mean follow-up of 11.6 months. Overall survival of patients in both groups was 100% with a mean follow-up of 43.9 months. A statistically significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) between these two groups was not found. Based on our findings, ACT seems to be an adequate treatment for patients with a high risk of relapse, as well as S for those with a low risk of relapse. Despite its excellent prognosis, optimal management of CSI testicular seminoma remains controversial, with variations in expert opinion and international guidelines.

An increase in melanoma incidence in the Slovak Republic (SR) is evident during approximately the same time and maybe caused by changes in socio-economic status. The paper analyses national trends in incidence, mortality, survival and clinical stages of invasive cutaneous melanoma in the SR from 1968-2007. The trends in incidence and mortality have been extracted between 1968-2007 period by the joinpoint regression analysis, clinical stages were analysed in 1978-2003. Survival data were extracted from the national database resources. Socio-economic changes, which reflected in increase in the number of holiday makers to seaside and mountainous destinations happened in the country in the y.1989. Subsequently, according to joinpoint in 1997, acceleration of increment of the incidence values of melanoma was recorded in both sexes. Mortality was increasing in males continuously, in females the stabilization was registered after the year 1999. Lower rates of relative survival might be influenced by delayed accessibility to adjuvant treatment. The number of cases diagnosed in clinical stage I increased significantly. The changes in the intensity and excessive sunbathing during vacations might be one of many factors that participate in subsequent acceleration of the increment of incidence not only in the SR.

Surveillance after orchiectomy alone becomes popular for the management of clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumors (CS I NSGCTT). Effort to identify patients at high risk of relapse leads to searching for risk factors of CS I NSGCTT. The aim of the study was to analyse own long-term experiences with different therapeutic approaches in CS I NSGCTT patients according to risk factors of the disease progression and to correlate these results with the group of patients who were treated with surveillance strategy only. From 11/1984 to 12/1991 a total of 145 patients with CS I NSGCTT were treated with surveillance strategy only (group A) and were followed-up to 1/2007. Patients, who had the disease progression, were treated with systemic chemotherapy. The disease progression was experienced in 52 patients (35.9 %). The overall survival rate of the patients in this group was 130/145 (89.7 %). From 1/1992 to 1/2007 a total of 323 patients with CS I NSGCTT were stratified to different risk-adapted therapeutic approaches (groups B1-3) according to histopathologic findings of primary tumor removed by inguinal orchiectomy. 111 patients (group B1) with vascular invasion and majority of embryonal carcinoma component in the primary tumor were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (2 cycles of BEP). Disease progression developed in two patients (1.9 %). Other patients live without evidence of disease (NED). None of them died. Among 11 patients (group B2) with vascular invasion and majority with teratomatous elements in the primary tumor underwent primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND), 9 were found to be pathological stage I. The disease progression was observed in two patients (18.2 %), they died 87-122 months following orchiectomy. Two patients (18.2 %) with pathological stage II received adjuvant chemotherapy. Other 7 patients live with NED following RPLND. 201 patients (group B3) without vascular invasion have been followed after orchiectomy alone. They were kept under close surveillance, consisting of regular follow-up with tumor markers, chest x-ray and CT of the retroperitoneum. The disease progression was observed in 39 patients (19.4 %), who were treated with BEP chemotherapy. Three of them (7.7 %) died after a mean follow-up of 32.7 months following orchiectomy. The overall survival rate of all patients in group B1-3 was 98.4 %. Introduction of different therapeutic approaches in CS I NSGCTT patients according to risk factors of the disease progression might reduce the overall relapse rate of these patients from 35.9 % (group A) to 19.4 % (group B3) (P< 0.001). Surveillance procedure is recommended only in patients without vascular invasion in the primary tumor.

Familial occurrence belongs to factors followed in etiology and pathogenesis of testicular germ-cell tumors. Association with abnormal testicular development, or with other risk factors is relatively frequent. In our material 650 patients had been treated for testicular cancer in the period of 1981-1995. Familial occurrence was observed 7-times (1.08%), most frequently in combination with cryptorchidism. Individual families were analyzed in details, including HLA typing. On basis of the observations the supplementation of initial examination of each patient with suspicious testicular cancer with detailed familial history aimed also at the occurrence of urogenital developmental anomalies and tumors has been recommended. The knowledge about familial tumor occurrence in the first-degree relatives in combination with thorough testicular self-examination is being considered of great importance in the secondary prevention.

Twenty eight patients with germ cell testicular cancer pulmonary metastases received primary chemotherapy including bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP). Complete response was achieved in 21 (75%) patients, in 11 of them CR was achieved following chemotherapy alone. Postchemotherapy surgery of residual mass was performed in 12 (42.9%) patients with normalized serum tumor markers. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed in one patient, pulmonary surgery in four, and both postchemotherapy treatments in 7 patients. Overall cure rate was 89.3%, 26 (92.9%) patients are still alive at a mean follow-up of 19.7+ months (range, 3-34+ months) after the treatment start. Two (7.1%) patients died: one of them due to disease progression during chemotherapy, and the second one due to postoperative complication (acute respiratory failure). Relapse of disease was observed in one patient 21 months following CR achievement, and sequential chemotherapy was introduced. Authors recommend surgical remove of all radiologically detected residual deposits, because the available imaging methods are not adequate for determining the histologic composition of residual mass, which is decisive for further therapy and has prognostic value.

The prospective study, carried out from February 1992 to January 1996, included 49 patients in clinical Stage I nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumors (NSGCTT). They were aged 16-40 years (mean, 25 years). Patients were stratified to different risk-adapted therapeutic approaches according to histopathologic findings of primary tumor removed by inguinal orchiectomy. Eleven patients of the 1st group with vascular invasion and majority of embryonal carcinoma components in the primary tumor were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (2 cycles of BEP). None of them had disease progression after the follow-up of 4-43+ months (mean, 20.9 months) after orchiectomy. Five patients of the 2nd group with vascular invasion and majority of teratoma elements in the primary tumor were treated with primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). They were followed-up 29-45+ months (mean, 33.4 months) after orchiectomy. Two of them (40%) had pathologic Stage II after RPLND and underwent subsequent BEP chemotherapy. One of them died due to disease progression in disseminated stage 29 months after orchiectomy. The second one lives with no evidence of the disease (NED). Thirty three patients in the 3rd group without vascular invasion were kept under surveillance. They were followed-up 3-48+ months (mean, 22.3 months) after orchiectomy. Disease progression was observed in 5 of them (15.1%), 7-10 months (mean, 8.8 months) following orchiectomy. These patients were treated with BEP chemotherapy and live with NED 1-16+ months (mean, 9.2 months) after completion of the therapy. The overall survival rate in clinical Stage 1 patients was 97.9%. The authors recommend the surveillance policy only in clinical Stage I NSGCTT patients without vascular invasion in the primary tumor.

A total of 60 patients with muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were entered into the nonrandomized study. The 1st group consisted of 30 patients treated by M-VAC neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical cystectomy when a residual tumor had been detected by biopsy made after the treatment. The overall clinical response was 70%. Fifteen (50%) out of 30 patients achieved clinical complete response (cCR). Objective pathologic response was attained in 6 (66.7%) of 9 evaluable patients who underwent radical cystectomy, pathologic complete response (pCR) was observed in two (22.2%) patients. Ten (33.3%) patients are still alive at a median follow-up of 22+ months. There were three (10%) drug-related deaths. The 2nd group consisted of 30 patients treated by CMV (with carboplatin) neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical pathologic response was attained in 9 (47.4%) of 19 evaluable patients, with pCR in 6 (31.6%) patients. Twenty four (80%) patients are still alive at a median follow-up of 13+ months. There was one (3.3%) drug-related death. The authors recommend immediate radical cystectomy following neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in all patients if their total status it allows.

A total of 250 patients with germ cell testicular tumors were treated by PVB chemotherapy between 1982 and 1992. Mean age of patients was 28.9 years (range 15-52). Thirty-four patients in clinical Stage II (11 patients IIA, 13 patients IIB, and 10 patients IIC) underwent primary retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RPL) with subsequent chemotherapy. They were followed-up for a mean of 106.3 months (range 85-125). CR was achieved in 30 patients (88.2%). Three patients relapsed. Twenty-seven patients (79.4%) are alive with no evidence of disease (NED) after a minimum of 5 years since the start of therapy. One hundred and twenty-two patients underwent primary chemotherapy for clinical Stages IM (15 patients), IIA (31 patients, IIB (48 patients) and IIC (28 patients) with RPL in cases with residual mass in the retroperitoneum. They were followed-up for a mean of 47.7 months (range 6-122). CR was achieved in 115 patients (92.7%) (75 of them received chemotherapy alone, 40 patients achieved CR following combined cytostatic-surgical treatment). Eleven patients relapsed. One hundred and nine patients (89.3%) are alive with NED. Ninety-four patients in Stages III and IV (8 patients III, 86 patients IV) underwent primary chemotherapy with additional surgical removal of residual metastases. They were followed-up for a mean of 50.5 months (range 6-125). CR was achieved in 65 patients (69.1%) (32 of them received chemotherapy alone, 33 patients achieved CR following combined cytostatic-surgical treatment). Eleven patients relapsed. Fifty-seven patients (60.6%) are alive NED. There were 11 patients with advanced germ cell testicular cancer (Stages IIC and IV) who underwent initial PVB chemotherapy without previous orchiectomy. Delayed orchiectomy was done simultaneously with surgical removal of residual mass in the retroperitoneum or in the lungs or at completion of chemotherapy alone. The toxicity of chemotherapy was moderate. There were drug-related deaths in ten patients (4%).

A total of 13 patients with advanced germ cell testicular cancer underwent initial PVB chemotherapy without previous orchiectomy. Complete response (CR) of metastases was observed in 5 patients following chemotherapy alone. The residual mass persisted in 8 patients (in 5 of them in the retroperitoneum, in two patients in the lungs only and in one patient in both localizations). The residual masses were removed surgically. There were no viable malignant tumors in the removed tissue on histological examination. Delayed orchiectomy was performed simultaneously with surgical removal of the residual mass in the retroperitoneum or in the lungs in 8 patients, and in 5 patients as a separate procedure in complete responders following chemotherapy alone. Residual viable tumor in the testis was found in three patients, necrotic or fibrotic tissue in 5 patients, and mature teratoma in 5 patients. In patients with advanced germ cell testicular cancer preference must be given to early beginning of intensive chemotherapy without tissue diagnosis of primary tumor by orchiectomy. Benefit of this therapeutic approach is the timely management of acute abdominal and/or pulmonary symptoms of life-threatening distant metastases.

In a retrospective study of 530 patients with testicular germ cell tumors treated between 1977 and 1993, a group of 12 patients (2.26%) with bilateral testicular tumors was analyzed. While bilateral tumors were simultaneously present in two cases (both with different histologic types), consecutive development of a tumor in the contralateral testis was observed in 10 patients 5.25 years (range, 3-13.5 years) after orchiectomy for the first tumor. The authors highlight the variability of histologic types in both testes, the need for an individual therapeutic approach with a view to previous therapy for the first tumor, the need for hormonal replacement as well as the possibility of testicular prosthesis implantation following bilateral orchiectomy.

The results of a 7-year monitoring of 230 patients with non-seminomatous testicular tumors are reported with respect to the employment of radioimmunoanalysis of alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels and CT examinations of retroperitoneum and lungs. Prior to orchiectomy, elevated levels of at least one of these markers were found in 79% of patients. After orchiectomy, tumor marker levels were in 70.4% of patients in agreement with the results of CT examinations. After the completion of chemotherapy, in more than a half of patients normal tumor marker levels and positive CT findings were observed. These results were most often due to the presence of mature teratoma. In Stage I patients the advantages of tumor marker determinations and CT examinations in the early detection of tumor progression have fully been confirmed.