Neurodevelopmental Disorders Like Autism and ADHD May Increase Your Risk of Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is a type of cancer that affects the testicles, the male reproductive organs that produce sperm and hormones. This type of cancer is relatively rare, but it is the most common cancer in males aged 15-35. Symptoms of testicular cancer may include a lump or swelling in the testicle, pain or discomfort in the testicle, and a heavy feeling in the scrotum.

According to a recent study conducted by scientists at Uppsala University and Uppsala University Hospital, men with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism and ADHD, have a modestly elevated risk of developing testicular cancer or seminoma. This research, recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, is the first to establish a connection between neurodevelopmental disorders and testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer among young men, yet its causes remain largely unknown.

“As testicular cancer can be surgically removed, thus curing the disease, it is important to seek care in time if you feel a lump in your testicle,” notes Ingrid Glimelius, Senior Consultant at the Department of Oncology at Uppsala University Hospital and Professor at Uppsala University.

The new study focused on patients with testicular cancer in Sweden. A total of 6,166 patients were included and then compared with 61,660 age-matched men without testicular cancer. Medical register data was used to investigate whether psychiatric diagnoses prior to cancer diagnosis were more common in patients with testicular cancer than in the control group.

In general, the researchers did not find an increased risk of testicular cancer in patients with a psychiatric diagnosis, but the group with a neurodevelopmental disorder in particular saw a significant increase in the risk of the seminoma type of testicular cancer.

Although the researchers found that there was an increased risk of seminoma among people with neurodevelopmental disorders the absolute risk increase was less than one percent. The risk of testicular cancer is therefore still very low even among boys and men with conditions such as autism and ADHD, and there is no need to worry if you have these diagnoses. However, the results are intriguing in terms of attempts to get closer to explaining the mechanisms of testicular cancer occurrence.

“The study also found that people with a neurodevelopmental disorder were a median of four years younger when they developed cancer and were more likely to have more advanced disease at diagnosis,” adds Glimelius.

“We also saw that people with a previous psychiatric diagnosis had a slightly increased risk of dying from their testicular cancer compared to people without a previous psychiatric diagnosis, although testicular cancer survival rates were generally very good in both groups,” says Anna Jansson, a doctoral student at Uppsala University and Physician at Uppsala University Hospital.

This is the first research study to provide a link between neurodevelopmental disorders and the risk of testicular cancer. Previously known risk factors include having an undescended testicle as a baby or having a father or brother with testicular cancer.

“We do not know why we are seeing a link between neurodevelopmental disorders and the risk of testicular cancer, but we believe that early life events have an impact; perhaps even as early as the fetal stage,” continues Jansson.

“Since we can see a reduced survival rate among people with a mental health issue, it is important for the health care system, the individuals in question, and their families to be aware that they may also be affected by another illness, and to ensure they seek treatment if they feel a lump in their testicle. This disease can be cured in most people today,” adds Glimelius.

Reference: “Risk and mortality of testicular cancer in patients with neurodevelopmental or other psychiatric disorders” by Anna K. Jansson, Jonas Söderling, Johan Reutfors, Anna Thor, Camilla Sköld, Gabriella Cohn-Cedermark, Olof Ståhl, Karin E. Smedby, Andreas Pettersson and Ingrid Glimelius, 24 April 2023, British Journal of Cancer.
DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02260-8