While testicular cancer represents the most common solid tumor in young men between the ages of 15 and 35, it is much less common in children – “and thus, children with testicular cancer are much more challenging to study,” says urologic oncologist Nirmish Singla. “Unlike in adults, there are no reliable prognostic features to individualize risk of relapse among children with low-stage testicular cancer.”

Singla, Director of the Testicular Cancer Program, recently led a multicenter analysis of three clinical trials from the Children’s Oncology Group to identify predictors of outcomes in children with stage I testicular cancer. The investigators reported that children with early-stage disease demonstrated excellent survival outcomes, and the strongest predictors of relapse included older age and higher primary tumor stage.

 “Children with low-risk testicular cancer are highly curable,” says Singla. “Identifying predictors for relapse in these patients is important to inform personalized treatment strategies, while minimizing the risks and long-term toxicities associated with overtreatment.”