Types of Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is a rare disease in men caused by abnormal growth of cells in the tissues of one or both testicles. The male sex gland, testicles (testes or gonads) are the body's main source of male hormones which is involved in the production of sperm. The testicles, two in number, which look round and a little smaller than golf balls, are located behind the penis in a pouch of skin called the scrotum.

Testicular cancer usually arises between the ages of 15 and 49, more likely between 20-35. Testicular cancer or malignant tumour (also called germ cell tumour) begins when cells within the testicle become cancerous and begin to grow out of control. Seminoma and Nonseminoma are the two types of testicular cancer. Nonseminomas include four sub-types namely Choriocarcinoma, Embryonal Carcinoma, Teratoma, and Yolk sac tumors. Seminomas, made up of immature germ, are slow growing and tend to stay localized in the testicle for long periods. Nonseminomas arise from more mature, specialized germ cells and tend to be more aggressive than Seminomas. Tumors can also arise in the supportive and hormone-producing tissues of the testicles and are called Gonadal Stromal tumors. Leydig cell tumors and Sertoli cell tumors are two types. Secondary testicular tumors are those that start in another organ and then spread to the testicle. The most common secondary testicular cancer lymphoma, arise from lymphatic tissue (tissue that forms part of the immune system) within the testicle. These are very rare.

Types of Testicular Cancer

The testicles contain several types of cells, and each type of cell can develop into different types of cancer. The most common type of testicular cancer (that represents more than 95 percent of all testicle cancers cases) is germ cell tumor or germinal tumor. This type of cancer develops within the germ cells. The germ cells are reproductive body cells which produce sperm in men. Sperm production begins with puberty. The germ cells within the testes produce immature sperm which travel through a network a tubes (called collecting tubes) into the epididymis (the tube within the testicles where collecting tubes join together), where it matures and is stored.
There are two main types of germ cell tumors:

I. Seminomas, represents about 40 percent of all germinal tumors, and it develops in men between the age of 30 and 40. In most cases, the cancer is confined to the testes, but in 25 percent of patients the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes. One of the main characteristics of this type of tumor is that the germ cells become malignant in an early stage of development. Seminomas are more responsive to treatment than the non-seminomas.

II. Non-seminomas, represents about 60 percent of the all germinal tumors, and it develops in men who are in their mid-30s. This type of cancer tends to develop early, grows fast, and spreads quickly. There are four types of non-seminomas:

1. Embryonal carcinomas - This type of tumor represents 25 percent of the non-seminomas, and it develops in men between the age of 20 and 30. Embryonla carcinomas are highly malignant and aggressive tumors, which grow rapidly and tend to spread to the lungs and liver.

2. Teratoma carcinomas - This type of tumors represents 20 to 30 percent of all non-seminomas tumors and it affects young boys more then adult men.

3. Yolk-sac tumors is a rare type of testicular cancer that can affect adult men but more commonly occurs in young boys.

4. Choriocarcinomas is a rare type of testicular cancer.

There is another type of testicular cancer, called stromal cell tumor, which represents only 3 to 4 percent of all testicular cancers and 20 percent of childhood testicular tumors. This type pf cancer develops within the testicles supportive tissues (called stroma).

The stromal cell tumors are a type of tumor made up of Leydig cells (testis cells that produce testosterone), Sertoli cells (the cells where sperm matures), and granulose cells. Sometimes, these tumors secret a hormone called estradiol, which can cause an excessive development of breast tissue - gynecomastia (a testicular cancer symptom).

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