Guidelines on testicular cancer

OBJECTIVE: To up-date the 2001 version of the EAU testicular cancer guidelines.

METHODS: A non-structured literature review until January 2005 using the MEDLINE database has been performed. Literature has been classified according to evidence-based medicine levels.

RESULTS: Testicular cancer is a highly curable disease. Excellent cure rates have been achieved by standardization of treatment, interdisciplinary management, and tremendous success in performing clinical trials. Currently, the aims of testicular cancer treatment are as follows: for patients with low-stage disease, a reduction in treatment is proposed to improve long-term toxicity in these patients with unaltered life expectancy; for about 10% of patients with advanced disease and poor prognosis, intensification of treatment (including high-dose chemotherapy and new drugs as well as aggressive surgical approaches) is being investigated to improve long-term cure rates.

CONCLUSION: Guidelines will improve clinical practice only if they are regularly updated. This update presents the state-of-the-art management of testicular cancer patients in 2005.