title: Testicular tumors as a possible cause of antisperm autoimmune response.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the presence of antisperm antibodies in testicular cancer patients 1 month after orchiectomy and before radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of andrology and seminology at a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred ninety patients with testicular cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Determination of semen parameters and autoimmune reaction evaluated on the sperm surface and in blood serum.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data support the hypothesis that testicular cancer might not be a possible cause of antisperm autoimmunization and infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pathophysiology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paoli
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gilio
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piroli
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dondero
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gandini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D055101:Semen Analysis; D018239:Seminoma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies