Improved survival for patients with testicular cancer in Europe since 1978

Within the framework of EUROCARE, a population-based study on survival and care of cancer patients in Europe, we analysed survival of 7426 men with te sticular cancer diagnosed between 1985 and 1989 in 17 countries. For compar ison between the countries, survival rates were age-standardised to the age structure of the entire study population. Among the participating countrie s of Northern, Western, Central and Southern Europe and the U.K., the age-s tandardised 5-year relative survival rate varied from 89% (Finland) to 93% (Spain, Germany). In Eastern Europe, the rate ranged from 48% (Estonia) to 84% (Slovenia). Rates in Poland, Slovakia and Estonia were significantly lo wer than the summary rate for Europe (P < 0.05). Relative survival generall y decreased with the age of patients at diagnosis. Based on the weighted an alysis of pooled European data, the 5-year relative survival rate was 91% f or patients aged 15-44 years; 85% for patients aged 55-64 years; and 59% fo r patients aged 75 years and over. The time trend in survival by 3-year per iods between 1978 and 1989 was studied on the basis of 12 084 cases provide d by 12 countries. From 1978-1980 to 1987-1989, the 5-year relative surviva l rate for Europe increased from 79 to 93% (P < 0.05). The inequalities in survival between the more developed European countries were more notable in the 1970s than in the 1980s, suggesting that the treatment for testicular cancer became standardised in the latter period. Poorer survival in Eastern Europe and particularly in Estonia, could be related to later introduction of the effective cytotoxic treatments, but also to longer diagnostic delay and limited availability of modern staging procedures. (C) 1998 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.