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Malignant interstitial cell carcinoma of the testis: Report of two cases with steroid synthetic profiles, response to therapy, and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Davis Stephen,
di Martino Nancy A.,
Schneider George
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19810115)47:2<425::aid-cncr2820470234>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - medicine , carcinoma , steroid , pathology , oncology , hormone
Two cases of malignant interstitial cell carcinoma of the testis are reported. The first patient had no evidence of a virilizing syndrome. Basal plasma testosterone (T) was decreased, whereas plasma luteinizing hormone, estrone (E 1 ), and androstenedione were elevated. These findings were diagnostic of a defect in T secretion as a result of a partial 17‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency as seen in male pseudohermaphroditism. In the second patient, showing gynecomastia and atrophic testis, endocrine studies revealed high plasma T and estradiol (E 2 ); all measured Δ 4 and Δ 5 precursors of T were elevated resembling the pattern seen in virilizing adrenal carcinomas. Both patients were treated with radiotherapy without demonstrable effect. Chemotherapy—consisting of a combination of cis‐platinum, vinblastine, and bleomycin; then cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine; and finally o, p′‐DDD—was unsuccessful in reducing tumor bulk. Since malignant Leydig cell carcinomas are rare, this paper reviews the literature and makes recommendations concerning treatment.