Environmental, occupational and familial risks for testicular cancer: a hospital-based case-control study

Testicular cancer (TC) risk factors remain largely unknown, except for personal history of cryptorchidism and familial history of TC. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study on familial, environmental and occupational conditions in which we compared 229 cases and 800 controls. TC was correlated with cryptorchidism (OR = 3.02; CI: 1.90-4.79), a history of cryptorchidism in relatives (OR = 2.85; CI: 1.70-4.79), and TC (OR = 9.58; CI: 4.01-22.88], prostate cancer (OR = 1.80; CI: 1.08-3.02) and breast cancer (OR = 1.77; CI: 1.20-2.60) in relatives. Living in a rural area or having regular gardening activity (growing fruit or vegetables) was associated with an increased risk of TC (OR = 1.63; CI: 1.16-2.29; OR = 1.84; CI: 1.23-2.75). Regarding occupation, we found a relationship with employment in metal trimming (OR = 1.96; CI: 1.00-3.86), chemical manufacture (OR = 1.88; CI: 1.14-3.10), industrial production of glue (OR = 2.21; CI: 1.15-4.25), and welding (OR = 2.84; CI: 1.51-5.35). In a multivariate model, only a history of cryptorchidism in the men, cryptorchidism in relatives, TC, and breast cancer remained significant. Our findings contribute further evidence to a pattern of TC risk factors, which include the significant weight of personal reproductive history and also of testicular and breast cancer in relatives. By including in a multivariate model variables linked to environmental and occupational exposure and related to familial cancer history, neither living in a rural area nor any occupational exposure appeared to be a potential environmental TC risk factor.