[Environmental/occupational exposure and testicular tumors: is there a relationship?]

Although the incidence and mortality of testicular cancer are low (1), it is of interest because of its increasing incidence, its earlier onset and its geographical distribution. A part for cryptorchidism, the aetiology is unknown but previous studies have raised the hypothesis that exogenous hormones like endocrine disrupters may play a role in the development of testicular cancer.

The aim of this study is to identify possible risk factors of testicular cancer in relation to environmental and occupational exposure, of the subject himself and of his mother. In in particular the study attempts to evaluate exposure to endocrine disrupters during the critical period of the development of the testis.

This is an on going hospital case-control study conducted, at least, in six Romain hospital. Cases were recruited from hospital discharge records from 1995 to 2002. Controls were selected randomly form the orthopaedics' division. We are therefore collecting data with personal interviews from patients and their mother. Subjects are interviewed by phone (cases) or face-to-face (controls). We are interviewing also the mothers to received information on pregnancy. Estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval will be calculated, using a statistical software program specific for case-control studies.

The study will contribute to clarify if the hypothesis that exposure to endocrine disrupters may be involved in the development of testicular cancer.