
"I now know how cancer can strike anyone whatever their situation or circumstance. I hope by taking part in a trial it will help others in my position in the future.”
This study was done to find out more about the causes of testicular cancer. And to identify genes that may be important in the development of the disease.
The study was supported by Cancer Research UK. It was open for people to join between 2013 and 2018. The research team published the results in 2021.
Risk factors for testicular cancer include having a family history. When this study was done, we already knew about some genetic changes which can increase risk. But researchers wanted to find out more.
In this study, they looked at the genes of thousands of people with and without testicular cancer. They also asked about family history. And then looked for links between certain genetic changes and the development of testicular cancer.
The main aims of this study were to:
Study design
This study was for men who had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. But men without cancer could also take part (the control group).
Everyone who took part answered questions about their family history and their medical history. The research team also took a blood sample and a sample of the cancer. This is so they could look at the genetic changes people had.
They then compared the genes of those who had cancer with those who didn’t, to see if there were any links.
Results
These results include results of men who joined this study, and men who took part in other similar studies. This is called a meta analysis.
In total, the researchers looked at information about:
They found 22 new genetic changes that may increase the risk of testicular cancer. Some of these changes increase the risk more than others.
More detailed information
There is more information about this research in the reference below.
Please note, this article is not in plain English. It has been written for health care professionals and researchers.
Identification of 22 susceptibility loci associated with testicular germ cell tumors
J Pluta and others
Nature Communications, 2021. Volume 12, article 4487.
Where this information comes from
We have based this summary on the information in the article above. This has been reviewed by independent specialists () and published in a medical journal. We have not analysed the data ourselves. As far as we are aware, the link above is active and the article is free and available to view.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Prof Timothy Bishop
Cancer Research UK
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
The Testicular Cancer Consortium
University of Leeds
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I now know how cancer can strike anyone whatever their situation or circumstance. I hope by taking part in a trial it will help others in my position in the future.”