Abstract
Purpose
Malignant germ cell tumors (GCTs) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms putatively originating from the primordial germ cell. In adults, an increasing incidence of GCTs, particularly testicular tumors, has been reported in recent decades. However, population-based evidence in children and adolescents remains limited. We investigated the incidence of malignant GCTs diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, using population-based nationwide data from Finland.
Methods
We obtained information from the Finnish Cancer Registry on all malignant GCTs registered in 1969–2008 in children or adolescents aged 0–19 years. Data on tumor location, histology, stage, and survival were collected. Age-standardized incidence and survival rates were calculated.
Results
A total of 334 cases of malignant GCT were identified. Their proportion among all malignant tumors among 0- to 19-year-olds increased from 3 to 9.7 % in boys with time, but remained stable in girls (3 %). The overall incidence rate was 0.6 per 100,000 (0.8 in boys and 0.4 in girls), and differed significantly between the age groups. A significant increase in the incidence of testicular GCTs was seen in boys in the age group of 15–19 years.
Conclusions
Although malignant GCTs are rare, their relative frequency in children and adolescents has increased during recent decades, the change being mainly due to an increasing frequency of the testicular tumors among teenagers. The causes of the increase remain unknown, but environmental exposures are likely to be involved.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Professor Nea Malila and Maarit Leinonen, MD, PhD from the Finnish Cancer Registry, for their highly professional help with cancer statistics. We also thank Katriina Heikkilä, PhD, for critical reading of the manuscript and her invaluable comments on cancer epidemiology. Financial support from the Väre Foundation, the Emil Aaltonen Foundation, the Pediatric Graduate School, Tampere University Hospital Research Funds, Helsinki University Central Hospital Research Funds, Seinäjoki Central Hospital Research Funds, and the National Graduate School of Clinical investigation is gratefully acknowledged.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Pauniaho, SL., Salonen, J., Helminen, M. et al. Germ cell tumors in children and adolescents in Finland: trends over 1969–2008. Cancer Causes Control 25, 1337–1341 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-014-0439-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-014-0439-6