An international panel analyzes combined data from thousands of participants in clinical trials in order to develop a classification system for germ cell tumors (tumors that generally arise in the testicles or ovaries). This system now helps doctors to more accurately assess testicular tumors, determine prognosis, and uniformly classify cancers for clinical trials worldwide.

After identifying the lymph nodes where testicular cancer is most likely to spread, surgeons begin using a new surgical technique – called nerve-sparing or modified retroperitoneal lymph node dissection – to remove the cancerous testicle and the affected nodes. Whereas previous surgical techniques generally left men unable to ejaculate following surgery, this new approach spares key nerves and tissue. Over time, refinements to the approach enable 95 percent of men with testicular cancer to maintain their sexual function and fertility.

A pivotal trial shows that combining the drugs cisplatin, vinblastine (Velban, Velsar) and bleomycin (Blenoxane) (a regimen referred to as PVB) provides full remissions for 70 percent of patients with advanced testicular cancer. Cisplatin is approved by the FDA the following year, and remains a mainstay of testicular cancer treatment today.

Clinical trials show that the drugs vinblastine (Velban, Velsar) and mithramycin are effective in men with advanced stages of testicular cancer. By combining the new drugs with existing treatments, physicians find that they can achieve complete remissions in 10 to 20 percent of cases – an impressive result for any cancer at an advanced stage.