Testicular Cancer Treatment (Cont.)

Response to Testicular Cancer Treatment

Testicular tumors are divided into three groups, depending on how well the tumors are expected to respond to treatment. These groups include:
 
  • Good prognosis
  • Intermediate prognosis
  • Poor prognosis.
     
Good Prognosis
In order for a patient with nonseminoma to receive a good prognosis, all of the following must be true:
 
  • The tumor is found only in the testicle or in the retroperitoneum (area outside or behind the abdominal wall)
     
  • The tumor has not spread to organs other than the lungs
     
  • The levels of all the tumor markers are slightly above normal.
     
In order for a patient with seminoma to receive a good prognosis, all of the following must be true:
 
  • The tumor has not spread to organs other than the lungs
     
  • The level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is normal.
     

Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) may be at any level.

 

Intermediate Prognosis
In order for a patient with nonseminoma to receive an intermediate prognosis, all of the following must be true:
 
  • The tumor is found only in one testicle or in the retroperitoneum
     
  • The tumor has not spread to organs other than the lungs
     
  • The level of any one of the tumor markers is more than slightly above normal.
     
In order for a patient with seminoma to receive an intermediate prognosis, all of the following must be true:
 
  • The tumor has spread to organs other than the lungs
     
  • The level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is normal.
     

Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) may be at any level.

(Testicular Cancer Treatment Continued: Page 4)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD