humulene and Neoplasms--Germ-Cell-and-Embryonal

The aetiology of testicular cancer remains elusive. In this manuscript, we review the evidence regarding the association between cannabis use and testicular cancer development.. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we reviewed literature published between 1(st) January 1980 and 13(th) May 2015 and found three case-control studies that investigated the association between cannabis use and development of testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs).. Using meta-analysis techniques, we observed that a) current, b) chronic, and c) frequent cannabis use is associated with the development of TGCT, when compared to never-use of the drug. The strongest association was found for non-seminoma development--for example, those using cannabis on at least a weekly basis had two and a half times greater odds of developing a non-seminoma TGCT compared those who never used cannabis (OR: 2.59, 95% CI 1.60-4.19). We found inconclusive evidence regarding the relationship between cannabis use and the development of seminoma tumours. It must be noted that these observations were derived from three studies all conducted in the United States; and the majority of data collection occurred during the 1990's.

Topics: Cannabis; Case-Control Studies; Humans; Male; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Risk Factors; Testicular Neoplasms; United States

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Cannabis; Carboplatin; Drug Interactions; Etoposide; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Male; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Stroke; Testicular Neoplasms

Marijuana use has been reported to spuriously elevate immunoreactive human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the serum of patients with testicular germ cell tumors. To reinvestigate this finding, we measured serum HCG and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) levels in 16 men known or suspected to be marijuana users. Eight of the serum samples had measurable levels of delta 9-THC, while eight did not. None contained immunoreactive HCG. The addition of delta 9-THC directly to pooled male serum had no effect on the HCG radioimmunoassay. These results indicate that marijuana does not artificially elevate serum HCG concentrations.

Topics: Cannabis; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Dronabinol; Humans; Male; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Radioimmunoassay; Testicular Neoplasms