Occupational risk factors for testicular cancer: a registry-based case-control study in Rhineland Palatinate – Germany

OBJECTIVES Testicular cancer affects mainly men below the age of 50. An association with occupation and social status has been suggested but risk factors are not well understood. A registry-based case-control study focusing on occupation was performed in Germany. METHODS All 348 testicular cancer cases with available gainful occupational information registered between 2000 and 2005; as well as 564 suitable controls (from a pool of other cancers) were drawn from the Cancer Registry of Rhineland-Palatinate. Unconditional logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios (OR) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS Slightly elevated OR were observed for technicians and related professionals (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.00-2.63) and for clerical support workers (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.14-2.56). This increase was highest in the age group 20-50 for technicians (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.23-3.33) and clerks (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.30-3.09), respectively. An association with testicular cancer was observed for no other occupation. CONCLUSION An increased risk of testicular cancer was observed for technicians and related professionals and clerical support workers. This could be related to socioeconomic status or sedentary life style, two factors that were identified in previous studies. While the feasibility of a purely registry-based study was shown, missing occupational data and the choice of cancer controls represent challenges to the validity of this approach.