Clinical trial NCT05083143: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Testicular Cancer
Official title: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Oncologic Outcomes of Testicular Cancer
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Testicular Cancer
COVID-19
Keywords: Testicular Cancer
COVID-19
Radical Orchiectomy
Lead sponsor: Ankara Training and Research Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-10-19
Enrollment: 50
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Patients diagnosed with testicular cancer in the urology clinic

Brief summary: In this study, investigators aim to reveal how the COVID-19 pandemic process affects testicular cancer presentations, tumor stages, the time elapsed between diagnosis and intervention, tumor recurrence and progression, which are oncological outcomes.

Detailed description: The rapid spread of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel betacoronavirus known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had dramatic effects on individuals and health systems around the world. Beyond those infected with SARS-CoV-2,the intense demand for limited health system resources has led to reduced capacity, rapid depletion of healthcare systems and hospitals becoming a source of virus transmission.

Urology associations and reference centers have issued recommendations to inform urology care during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is essential that urologists give priority to patient safety. Potential delays in the diagnosis and treatment of urological conditions and the additional burden on healthcare resources must be balanced against the risks of exposure to COVID-19. While this situation aims to conserve healthcare resources, it has created the risk of delaying cancer treatment. As a result, the transformation of health services and the increasing interest of the public in avoiding exposure to the disease has led to a decrease in the number of hospital admissions.

The effects of the pandemic on patients with testicular cancer due to a decrease in emergency room and urology clinic admissions are not clear. During theCOVID-19 outbreak, the EAU (European Association of Urology) panel of testicular cancer published an evidence-based guideline. According to this guideline, four priority groups were formed and a certain period of delaying treatment was defined for patients in each group according to their priorities.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients diagnosed with testicular cancer in the urology clinic.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous history of genitourinary system tumor
* Previous history of radiotherapy or chemotherapy

Primary outcomes:
measure: Rate of tumor stages
timeFrame: 2 month
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Ankara
country: Turkey
facility: Ankara Training and Research Hospital
state: Altindag
Study officials:
affiliation: Ankara Training and Resarch Hospital
name: Ali Kaan Yıldız
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Yue H, Bai X, Wang J, Yu Q, Liu W, Pu J, Wang X, Hu J, Xu D, Li X, Kang N, Li L, Lu W, Feng T, Ding L, Li X, Qi X; Gansu Provincial Medical Treatment Expert Group of COVID-19. Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in Gansu province, China. Ann Palliat Med. 2020 Jul;9(4):1404-1412. doi: 10.21037/apm-20-887. Epub 2020 Jul 13.
citation: Moul JW, Paulson DF, Dodge RK, Walther PJ. Delay in diagnosis and survival in testicular cancer: impact of effective therapy and changes during 18 years. J Urol. 1990 Mar;143(3):520-3. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)40007-3.
citation: Wallis CJD, Novara G, Marandino L, Bex A, Kamat AM, Karnes RJ, Morgan TM, Mottet N, Gillessen S, Bossi A, Roupret M, Powles T, Necchi A, Catto JWF, Klaassen Z. Risks from Deferring Treatment for Genitourinary Cancers: A Collaborative Review to Aid Triage and Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Eur Urol. 2020 Jul;78(1):29-42. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2020.04.063. Epub 2020 May 3.