Testicular tumors as a possible cause of antisperm autoimmune response

Objective

To evaluate the presence of antisperm antibodies in testicular cancer patients 1 month after orchiectomy and before radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Design

Clinical study.

Setting

Department of andrology and seminology at a university hospital.

Patient(s)

One hundred ninety patients with testicular cancer.

Intervention(s)

Determination of semen parameters and autoimmune reaction evaluated on the sperm surface and in blood serum.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Autoimmune reaction on the sperm surface by the direct immunobead test (IBT), and in blood serum by the indirect IBT and the gelatin agglutination test (GAT), was evaluated 1 month after orchiectomy and before beginning chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Result(s)

Of the 190 patients, 11 (5.8%) were positive for antisperm antibody by GAT. On indirect IBT, 3 of the 11 GAT-positive patients were positive to IgG class only, with values of 22%, 24%, and 40%. Of the 11 GAT-positive patients, 4 showed no antibody bound to the sperm surface, and 3 were positive to IgG class only (28%, 21%, and 38%), with binding exclusively on the tail. Direct IBT could not be performed in the remaining 4 patients.

Conclusion(s)

Our data support the hypothesis that testicular cancer might not be a possible cause of antisperm autoimmunization and infertility.

Key Words: Testicular cancer, ASA, infertility, semen analysis