A Case-control Study to Assess the Association Between Environmental, Domestic and Occupational Exposures and the Risk of Testicular Germ Cell Tumor
Condition: Testicular Germ Cell Tumor
MeSH terms: Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Testicular Neoplasms
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The incidence of testicular germ cell tumors, the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 45
      years, has doubled in France in 30 years. Reasons remain unclear but a role of environmental
      factors, especially during critical periods of development, is strongly suspected. Reliable
      data on environmental exposure during this critical period are sparse.The discordant findings
      and the limitations of available studies underline the importance to conduct studies with
      sufficient statistical power to detect risk due to exposures during critical windows of
      vulnerability.

      We conduct a multicentric case-control study to assess this association. Cases and controls
      will be enrolled during a 18-month period. They will be interviewed by professional telephone
      interviewers about their occupational and residential history and about their domestic
      exposure to pesticides and other nuisances.

      An optional biological study to assess genetic polymorphisms known to be associated with
      testicular cancer will be proposed to every cases and controls.

      Mothers (or close relative) of cases and controls will also be contacted (with son's
      agreement). If they agree to participate, they will also be interviewed about antenatal and
      early life exposure of their sons to pesticides and other nuisances.

      Cases will be matched up with 2 controls (one of each group) both on age (+/- 2 years) and on
      recruiting center.
    

Detailed description: 
      Environmental exposure to pesticides will be assessed from subject's residential history,
      using a Geographic Information System.

      Occupational exposure to pesticides and other nuisances will be assessed by an industrial
      hygienist who will be in charge to encode all subjects and mothers' occupations.

      Domestic exposure to pesticides will be assessed from type, target and frequency of domestic
      pesticide use.

      Based on these 3 sources of exposure, a score of exposition will be calculated for each case
      and each control.
    

Intervention name(s): Phone interview and blood test
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Subjects will be interviewed about environmental, domestic and occupational exposures during several periods of life Two blood samples will be collected at enrollment to study genetic polymorphisms
Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Retrospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Cases are patients with a testicular germ cell tumor. They will be recruited in the French
        infertility centers at the moment of sperm cryopreservation.

        Group A controls are sperm donors and husbands of women with fertility troubles. They will
        be recruited in the French infertility centers and in the medically assisted procreation
        centers.

        Group B controls are husbands of women followed for a pathological pregnancy. This group of
        controls will be recruited in the level III maternities.
      
Biospecimen description: 
      plasma and buffy coat