Testicular Cancer May Raise Prostate Cancer Risk

According to a new study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, men who have had testicular cancer may have an increased risk for prostate cancer. While there have been previous studies that have shown an increased risk of prostate cancer in men who have previously had testicular cancer, this is the first one to observe the risk of getting intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer.

Dr. Mohummad Minhaj Siddigui, lead study author and assistant professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine said, “Men with a history of testicular cancer should talk with their doctor about assessing their risk for prostate cancer, given there may be an increased risk.”

The study analyzed SEER data from about 180,000 American men; 32,325 of the men were age 40 and up and previously had testicular cancer and 147,044 men were age 40 and up and had previously had melanoma.

The results showed that 12.6 percent, or 3,205 of the participants who previously had testicular cancer were diagnosed with prostate cancer by age 80. This was in comparison to 2.8 percent of participants who did not have a history of testicular cancer.

Men who previously had testicular cancer were 5.8 percent more likely to get intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer, compared to 1.1 percent of men who did not have testicular cancer. Overall, men with a history of testicular cancer had a 4.7 times higher risk for prostate cancer and a 5.2 times higher risk for intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer.

Researchers looked at risk factors such as race, age, and history of radiation. They found that even when these risk factors were controlled, there was still an increased risk for intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer in men who previously had testicular cancer.

“It is too soon to make any practice recommendations based on this single study, but the findings provide groundwork for further research into the biologic link between the two diseases,” said Dr. Siddiqui.