Postnatal Determinants of Testicular Germ Cell Tumor by Histological Subtypes: The EPSAM1 and EPSAM2 Studies

    August 2025 in “ International Journal of Cancer ”
    Michele Cioffi, Giovenale Moirano, Elena Isaevska, Valentina Fiano, Massimo Di Maïo, Patrizia Lista, Ilaria Depetris, Andrea Zitella, Pietro Quaglino, Lorenzo Richiardi, Maja Popović
    TLDR Childhood and adult height, and early immune-related hospitalizations increase testicular cancer risk, while baldness, larger families, and sports reduce it.
    The study analyzed postnatal risk factors for testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) using data from 358 cases and 545 controls in Italy. It found that taller height at ages 9 and 13, as well as adult height, were associated with increased TGCT risk, particularly for seminomas. Baldness starting 5 years before diagnosis was linked to a decreased TGCT risk. Larger sibship size and participation in competitive sports or gardening at age 13 were inversely associated with TGCT risk. Hospitalizations up to age 18 for conditions like tonsillitis and immune-mediated pathologies were associated with increased TGCT risk. The study emphasizes the importance of postnatal exposures in understanding TGCT etiology and suggests differences in risk factors between seminomas and non-seminomas.
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