[Alternatives to the radiotherapy of stage I testicular seminoma]

Adjuvant irradiation is currently the most frequently used standard treatment for the clinical stage I seminoma (CSI) following orchiectomy. There is a potential carcinogenic risk with irradiation that prompted a search for alternative adjuvant treatment approach. The cure in CSI seminoma patients can be achieved with surveillance or chemotherapy. Surveillance takes into account the fact that 80% of patients do not need any adjuvant treatment after orchiectomy and are overtreated by adjuvant irradiation. Recently, one cycle of adjuvant carboplatin has been proven in a prospective randomized trial. Taken together, all three treatment options are acceptable standard strategies for the management of patients with CSI. Finally, the experience with surveillance strategy allowed an in-depth meta analysis of factors predictive for relapse discrimining the patients who are in need of post orchiectomy adjuvant treatment from those who safety can be followed by the surveillance strategy. However, this risk adapted approach is still under prospective evaluation.