Summary: Men with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism or ADHD, have a slightly higher risk of developing testicular cancer than those without such disorders. The research is the first to provide a link between neurodevelopmental disorders and testicular cancer risk, although the absolute risk increase was less than 1%.
Source: Uppsala University
A new study by researchers at Uppsala University and Uppsala University Hospital shows that men who have a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as autism and ADHD, also have a slightly increased risk of testicular cancer, or seminoma.
This is the first study to show such a link, with the results to be published in the British Journal of Cancer.
Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in young men, and its underlying causes are still largely unknown.
“As testicular cancer can be surgically removed, thus curing the disease, it is important to seek care in time if you feel a lump in your testicle,” notes Ingrid Glimelius, Senior Consultant at the Department of Oncology at Uppsala University Hospital and Professor at Uppsala University.
The new study focused on patients with testicular cancer in Sweden. A total of 6,166 patients were included and then compared with 61,660 age-matched men without testicular cancer. Medical register data was used to investigate whether psychiatric diagnoses prior to cancer diagnosis were more common in patients with testicular cancer than in the control group.
In general, the researchers did not find an increased risk of testicular cancer in patients with a psychiatric diagnosis, but the group with a neurodevelopmental disorder in particular saw a significant increase in the risk of the seminoma type of testicular cancer.
Although the researchers found that there was an increased risk of seminoma among people with neurodevelopmental disorders the absolute risk increase was less than one percent.
The risk of testicular cancer is therefore still very low even among boys and men with conditions such as autism and ADHD, and there is no need to worry if you have these diagnoses. However, the results are intriguing in terms of attempts to get closer to explaining the mechanisms of testicular cancer occurrence.
“The study also found that people with a neurodevelopmental disorder were a median of four years younger when they developed cancer and were more likely to have more advanced disease at diagnosis,” adds Glimelius.
“We also saw that people with a previous psychiatric diagnosis had a slightly increased risk of dying from their testicular cancer compared to people without a previous psychiatric diagnosis, although testicular cancer survival rates were generally very good in both groups,” says Anna Jansson, doctoral student at Uppsala University and Physician at Uppsala University Hospital.
This is the first research study to provide a link between neurodevelopmental disorders and the risk of testicular cancer. Previously known risk factors include having an undescended testicle as a baby or having a father or brother with testicular cancer.
“We do not know why we are seeing a link between neurodevelopmental disorders and the risk of testicular cancer, but we believe that early life events have an impact; perhaps even as early as the foetal stage,” continues Jansson.
“Since we can see a reduced survival rate among people with a mental health issue, it is important for the health care system, the individuals in question and their families to be aware that they may also be affected by another illness, and to ensure they seek treatment if they feel a lump in their testicle. This disease can be cured in most people today,” adds Glimelius.
About this neurodevelopment and cancer research news
Author: Linda Koffmar
Source: Uppsala University
Contact: Linda Koffmar – Uppsala University
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: Open access.
“Risk and mortality of testicular cancer in patients with neurodevelopmental or other psychiatric disorders” by Ingrid Glimelius et al. British Journal of Cancer
Abstract
Risk and mortality of testicular cancer in patients with neurodevelopmental or other psychiatric disorders
Background
Both testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) and neurodevelopmental disorders are associated with urogenital malformations. Few studies have investigated the association between psychiatric disorders and TGCT. We investigated whether history of any psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorder is associated with increased risk or mortality of TGCT.
Method
This is a nested case–control study including 6166 TGCT patients diagnosed during 1992–2014, individually matched for age and calendar period to 61,660 controls. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between type of psychiatric diagnoses and TGCT risk. Among the cases, we used a cohort design and calculated hazard ratios (HRs) of the association between psychiatric diagnose and all-cause and TGCT-specific death.
Results
History of a neurodevelopmental disorder (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities) was associated with an increased risk of seminoma (OR: 1.54; 1.09–2.19). Seminoma patients with neurodevelopmental disorders were younger (34 versus 38 years, p = 0.004) and had more stage IV disease (5.4% versus 1.2%) than those without. Psychiatric history overall was not associated with TGCT. Patient history of any psychiatric disorder was associated with an increased all-cause and TGCT-specific death.
Conclusions
We report an association between neurodevelopmental disorders and testicular seminoma, and an increased TGCT-specific mortality for TGCT patients with psychiatric disorders.
