Marijuana Associated with Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer, generally classified as seminomatous (60%)
and nonseminomatous (40%) with nonseminomatous being
more aggressive and treatment resistant, is the most common
cancer among American men ages 15 to 24 years, and
its incidence has been increasing 3–6% per year over several
decades. Prior research has demonstrated that chronic marijuana
use impacts endogenous hormone levels in the endocrine
and male reproductive systems. Researchers conducted
a population-based case control trial to determine
whether marijuana use is a risk factor for testicular cancer.
Between 1999 and 2006, 369 cases of testicular cancer in
men ages 18 to 44 years were identified from 3 counties in
Washington State. These men, along with 979 age-matched
controls, were surveyed about their lifetime marijuana use.
Potential confounders in analytic models included age, alcohol
use, current smoking, and history of cryptorchidism.
• Patients with testicular cancer were 1.7 times more
likely to be current marijuana smokers than controls.
• This association occurred most frequently in patients
with nonseminomatous tumors, who were 2.3 times
more likely to be current marijuana smokers than controls.
• Patients with nonseminomatous tumors were also
more likely to have started using marijuana at an earlier
age (odds ratio [OR], 2.8), to have been using
marijuana for 10 or more years (OR, 2.7), and to have
a higher frequency of use (OR, 3.0).
Comments: Marijuana use at an earlier age, for more years,
and with higher frequency is associated with nonseminomatous
testicular cancer. Prospective studies controlling for
confounders as well as basic scientific research to elucidate
the potential biologic mechanisms behind this association
are needed to determine whether marijuana use causes
nonseminomatous testicular cancer.
Source: . Association of marijuana use and the incidence of testicular germ cell tumors.
Cancer. 2009;115(6):1215–1223.

Filed under: Cannabis/Marijuana,Health :

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