Saudi Oncology Society and Saudi Urology Association combined clinical management guidelines for testicular germ cell tumors.

This is an update to the previously published Saudi guidelines for the evaluation, medical, and surgical management of patients diagnosed with testicular germ cell tumors. It is categorized according to the stage of the disease using the tumor-node-metastasis staging system 7(th) edition. The guidelines are presented with supporting evidence level, they are based on comprehensive literature review, several internationally recognized guidelines, and the collective expertise of the guidelines committee members (authors) who were selected by the Saudi Oncology Society and Saudi Urological Association. Considerations to the local availability of drugs, technology and expertise have been regarded. These guidelines should serve as a roadmap for the urologists, oncologists, general physicians, support groups, and health care policy makers in the management of patients diagnosed with testicular germ cell tumors.

INTRODUCTION

Testicular cancer is a rare disease. A total of 78 cases have been diagnosed in 2010, with an age standardized rate of 0.8 cases/100,000 representing 1.7% of all diagnosed cancer in Saudi males (www.scr.org.sa). Owing to the rarity of the disease and the multidisciplinary approach in managing testis cancer, the group recommended that all testicular cancer cases should be managed in tertiary care centers.

Staging

The American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor-node-metastasis staging for testis cancer (7th edition 2010) was used.[1]

Evaluation of testicular tumors

Ultrasound of the scrotum is recommended to diagnose the tumor

Serum tumor markers includes alpha fetoprotein (AFP), beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG), and lactate dehydrogenase should prior to orchiectomy

Computed tomography (CT) chest, abdomen, and pelvis should performed for confirmed testicular cancer.

Risk stratification

The International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group risk classification.

Treatment of testicular germ cell cancer

General considerations:

Patients at all stages should undergo urgent inguinal orchiectomy unless the clinical situation requires immediate chemotherapy in patients with a testicular mass and clear germ cell malignancy based on elevated tumor markers

Trans-scrotal biopsy or orchiectomy for any intra-testicular lesion is absolutely contra-indicated

All patients who will undergo treatment with chemotherapy, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND), or radiotherapy should be offered sperm banking. To maintain treatment intensity, chemotherapy cycles should be repeated every 3 weeks, independent of leukocyte count

Tumor markers are to be determined immediately before the start of each new chemotherapy cycle.

The treatment will depend on the histological subtype as follow:

Seminoma

Further treatment will depend on the stage:

Stage I

Surveillance: Is considered the preferred strategy, except in patients with expected poor compliance or with primary tumor size ≥4 cm and ≥pT2 (evidence level [EL-1])[2]

Chemotherapy: Single agent carboplatin: 1–2 doses at area under the curve 7 (EL-1)[3]

Radiotherapy: Infradiaphragmatic para-aortic strip only and in patient with prior scrotal surgery, ipsilateral iliac nodes should be included (EL-1).[45]

Stage IS

Infradiaphragmatic radiotherapy to para-aortic strip only and in patient with prior scrotal surgery, ipsilateral iliac nodes should be included (EL-3).[6]

Stage IIA and IIB, all of the following options are acceptable

Radiotherapy to infradiaphragmatic para-aortic and ipsilateral Iliac nodes, preferred for stage IIA and for stage IIB who are not fit for chemotherapy (EL-2)[7]

Three cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy or four cycles of etoposide and cisplatin (EP), if there are concerns about bleomycin toxicity as in patients with reduction in lung capacity, emphysema, heavy smoking (including former smokers) (EL-2).

Stage IIC and III: Treatment will depend on the risk classification

Good risk: Three cycles of BEP chemotherapy or four cycles of EP, if there are concerns about bleomycin lung toxicity (EL-1)[8]

Intermediate risk: Chemotherapy with four cycles of BEP or four cycles of VIP chemotherapy (etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin) (EL-1).[9]

Management of postchemotherapy residual nodes/masses seen on computed tomography scan: This depend on the size and the level of tumor markers (hCG):

If size <3 cm and normal markers: Surveillance

If more than 3 cm and normal markers: Do positron emission tomography:[10]

If negative: Surveillance (EL-2).

If positive consider one of the following options:

Surgical resection

Second-line chemotherapy if positive for residual disease (see item 4.2.1.6.3.2)

Radiotherapy

If the residual mass is enlarging or markers increasing: Second-line chemotherapy (EL-2) - (see item 4.2.1.6.3.2).

Management of patients failing 1st line chemotherapy: Patients will receive second-line chemotherapy; options are:

Four cycles of vinblastine, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (VeIP) regimen[11] (EL-2) or

Four cycles of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (TIP) regimen (EL-2).[12]

Management of patients failing second-line chemotherapy: Patients will be treated with monotherapy or combination of paclitaxel and gemcitabine (for those who did not receive paclitaxel before), gemcitabine and oxaliplatin, or oral etoposide.[13]

Nonseminoma

Treatment will depend on the stage as follow:

Stage I

Treatment will depend on the presence of any the following risk factors: Lymphovascular invasion, presence of embryonal histology (50% or more), absence of yolk sac histology, and tumor stage > T1.[1415]

Stage I with no risk factors, options are:

Surveillance: Should be reserved in compliant patients (EL-2).[1617]

Two cycles of BEP regimen (EL-1),[161718] also one cycle of BEP chemotherapy can be considered in such cases[18]

Open nerve sparing RPLND to be done only in high volume tertiary care centers (EL-2),[18] further therapy will depend on the pathological result as follow:

pN0: Surveillance

pN1: Surveillance in compliant patients or two cycles of chemotherapy with BEP in noncompliant patients (EL-3)

pN2-3: Three cycles of chemotherapy with BEP regimen (EL-3).

Stage I with any risk factor of above, options are:

Two cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with BEPm regimen[16]

Open nerve sparing RPLND: To be done only in case of contraindication for chemotherapy and in high volume tertiary care centers (EL-2):[19] Further therapy will depend on the pathological stage as in item 4.2.1.1.3.1-3.

Stage IS:

Patient should receive three cycles of systemic chemotherapy with the BEP regimen (EL-3).

Stage IIA and IIB: Options of therapy will depend if markers (AFP and hCG) are normal or elevated:

Normal markers, options are:

Primary chemotherapy with three cycles of BEP.[8]

Open nerve sparing RPLND,[2021] only if the nodal metastases is in the primary landing zone and in selected patients, it should be done only in high volume center by experienced uro-oncologist. Further therapy will depend on the pathological stage as in item 4.2.1.1.3.1-3.

Elevated markers: Systemic chemotherapy depending on the international risk classification group:

Low risk: Three cycles of BEP chemotherapy.[78]

Intermediate and high risk: Four cycles of BEP chemotherapy.[9]

Stage IIC and III: Treatment will be with chemotherapy depending on the international risk classification

Low risk: Three cycles of BEP chemotherapy.[78]

Intermediate and high risk: Four cycles of BEP chemotherapy.[9]

Management of postchemotherapy: Tumor markers and imaging with CT scan should be done 4–8 weeks after the last cycle of chemotherapy.

No residual disease and normal markers: Surveillance is recommended.[22]

No residual disease and elevated markers: Second-line chemotherapy. See item 4.2.1.6.3.2

Residual disease by CT scan (>1 cm): This depends on the level of serum markers:

Normal markers: RPLND and resection of all residual disease, if technically feasible:[2324] Further therapy will depend on pathology result:

Mature teratoma, necrosis, or fibrosis: No further therapy

Residual germ cell tumor: Two cycles of chemo therapy[25] with E P, VIP or TIP (see below) (EL-2).

Elevated markers: Second-line chemotherapy options include

Four cycles of VeIP regimen.[11]

Four cycles of TIP regimen.[12]

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplant.[26]

Salvage treatment for seminoma and nonseminoma

Conclusive recommendations cannot be made at present

Prognosis is variable with 2 years survival rate ranging between 75% and 6% based on prognostic score

Options includes TIP × 4 or VeIP × 4 or high-dose chemotherapy with TI-CE mainly for patients at second-line setting

Carboplatin based high-dose chemotherapy as third line or later is an option, despite absence of randomized trials in this area

Desperation surgery should be part of the strategy whenever possible, particularly in patients with localized disease and with poor response to chemotherapy.[27]

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.