Recent Trends in Survival of Testicular Cancer Patients - Nation-wide Population Based Study.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Survival of germ cell testicular cancer (TC) patients is better than for other malignancies and has not yet been exactly studied in the Slovak Republic. The aim of the study, based on the analyses of epidemiological data over time, was to present 5-year survival trends for germ cell TC patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Survival is assessed within the framework of a nation-wide retroprospective study among TC patients newly diagnosed between 1993-2007 (divided to three 5-year periods according the time of diagnosis - 1993-1997, 1998-2002 and 2003-2007). Standardized 5-year survival rates were calculated and compared between the periods using a widely accepted methodology. TC patients were divided into two groups (seminomas and non-seminomas histopathologically) and to two groups according the age at diagnosis (< 40 vs. 40 years). The demographic characteristics of TC patients were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Statistical analysis was carried out using Microsoft Excel 2013, statistical software STATISTICA and Joinpoint Regression Programe, Version 4.3.1.0.

RESULTS: Five-year survival of TC patients (n = 2.748) diagnosed from 1993 to 2007 was 92.21%. TC patients diagnosed between 1993 and 1997 (n = 810) reached 5-year survival at 91.23%, between years 1998 and 2002 (n = 916) at 92.14% and between years 2003 and 2007 (n = 1.022) at 93.05%. There was not a statistically significant difference in survival among these three 5-year periods. Significant difference in 5-year survival was observed between seminomas and non-seminomas in each 5-year period. Compared with younger patients (age < 40 years), there was a significantly worse survival for TC patients (age 40 years) in all groups.

CONCLUSION: Moderate improvement in survival for TC patients in the Slovak Republic is probably influenced by diagnostic and therapeutic progress, including multidisciplinary care and patients concentration in specialized centers. The long-term follow-up of TC survivors can also help to prevent late side effects of the treatment modalities and to detect second malignancies.Key words: testicular cancer - seminoma - non-seminoma - age at diagnosis - survival.