[Germ cell tumors of the testis: current status and future progress]

The treatment of testicular cancer has undergone considerable evolution since the introduction of cisplatin and widespread recognition of its curative potentials at any stages of disease. This article provides an overview on statistical and epidemiological information, the latest developments in testicular cancer biology. Also, the results of treating 360 patients with nonseminomatous and 97 patients with seminomatous germ cell tumors are presented. A combined chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin demonstrates the highest rate of activity in nonseminomatous germ cell tumor patients. Surgical resection of residual masses after chemotherapy continues to be an important component of combined modality therapy in nonseminomatous testicular tumors. The needs for regular clinical examination during a follow-up have been underlined.