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. 2010 Oct 26;103(9):1467-74.
doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605934.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between body size and testicular cancer

C C Lerro  1 , K A McGlynn, M B Cook
Affiliations

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between body size and testicular cancer

C C Lerro et al. Br J Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Studies assessing the relationships of anthropometry and testicular germ-cell tumour (TGCT) have reported heterogeneous findings.

Methods: We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between adult height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and testicular cancer. Search strategies were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science on 26 May 2009. Studies that met our inclusion criteria were included in meta-analytic models using STATA 11.

Results: A total of 3255 references were retrieved, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria. Random effects meta-analysis found adult height (odds ratio (OR) per 5-cm increase 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.19, P<0.001) and weight (OR overweight vs normal 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.98, P=0.011) to be associated with TGCT. The meta-analysis of weight and TGCT produced a summary estimate, which indicated no association, although an analysis restricted studies to North American was suggestive of association (OR per 1-kg increase 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01, P<0.001).

Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis has found evidence for a positive association of adult height and TGCT, and tentative evidence for an inverse association of BMI and TGCT.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Forest plot of the association between height (per 5 cm) and testicular cancer risk. Each study-specific estimate is represented by a small solid diamond with adjoining horizontal lines, which represent the 95% confidence intervals. The size of the grey square surrounding the study-specific estimates represents the weight of each study in the meta-analysis. The diamond with an ascending dashed line from its upper point is the summary estimate. The width of diamond represents the 95% confidence intervals of the summary estimate.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of the association between weight (per kg) and testicular cancer risk. Each study-specific estimate is represented by a small solid diamond with adjoining horizontal lines which represent the 95% confidence intervals. The size of the grey square surrounding the study-specific estimates represents the weight of each study in the meta-analysis. The diamond with an ascending dashed line from its upper point is the summary estimate. The width of diamond represents the 95% confidence intervals of the summary estimate.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of the association between weight (per kg) and testicular cancer risk stratified by continent. Each study-specific estimate is represented by a small solid diamond with adjoining horizontal lines which represent the 95% confidence intervals. The size of the grey square surrounding the study-specific estimates represents the weight of each study in the meta-analysis. The diamond with an ascending dashed line from its upper point is the summary estimate. The width of diamond represents the 95% confidence intervals of the summary estimate.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot of the association between body mass index (per kg m−2) and testicular cancer risk. Each study-specific estimate is represented by a small solid diamond with adjoining horizontal lines which represent the 95% confidence intervals. The size of the grey square surrounding the study-specific estimates represents the weight of each study in the meta-analysis. The diamond with an ascending dashed line from its upper point is the summary estimate. The width of diamond represents the 95% confidence intervals of the summary estimate.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Forest plot of the association between body mass index (categorical) and testicular cancer risk. Each study-specific estimate is represented by a small solid diamond with adjoining horizontal lines which represent the 95% confidence intervals. The size of the grey square surrounding the study-specific estimates represents the weight of each study in the meta-analysis. The diamond with an ascending dashed line from its upper point is the summary estimate. The width of diamond represents the 95% confidence intervals of the summary estimate.
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