Patients with HIV-related testicular cancer have a similar cancer-free outcome compared to their HIV-negative counterparts if treated in an identical manner in the HAART era [1]. This contradicts early reports in the pre-HAART era [7]. Diagnosis should follow an identical path regardless of HIV status and all patients should be tested for HIV infection. A testicular mass must be treated with the utmost suspicion selleck products and an ultrasound scan (or MRI) and tumour markers (AFP, HCG) should follow. LDH is nonspecific and should only be used to prognosticate patients with metastatic

disease. False-positive AFP can be related to HAART/hepatitis-related liver disease, while there are many causes of a false positive LDH [1]. The differential diagnosis for a testicular mass in this setting includes orchitis and lymphoma. A CT scan of the chest abdomen and pelvis should be performed for full staging. MRI scanning for para-aortic lymph nodes is an alternative for the abdomen and pelvis. There is no clear role for FDG-PET in these patients regardless of HIV serostatus. Patients with stage I disease (seminomas or NSGCT) can be safely treated with surveillance alone Smad inhibitor and have a similar outcome to their HIV-negative counterparts [1]. Alternatively, adjuvant carboplatin (AUC7) can be offered to the seminoma patients (we advise one cycle), while two cycles of adjuvant BEP can be offered to the NSGCT [1]. It appears three

cycles of BEP suppresses the CD4 cell count by between 25 and 50%, and it is probable that two cycles of BEP will also be suppressive. Therefore low-risk NSGCT patients should be offered surveillance and adjuvant therapy should only be considered for high-risk NSGCT [6]. Additionally it has been suggested that adjuvant therapy should be considered in patients with a haphazard lifestyle (who are unlikely to co-operate with an intensive surveillance programme) [6]. Patients should receive HAART during adjuvant or metastatic chemotherapy [1]. Prophylactic antifungal agents should be considered, especially for patients receiving two cycles of

BEP [6]. Patients should be risk stratified according to the IGCCCG guidelines in an identical manner to HIV-negative only patients [8]. Good-risk patients should be offered three cycles of standard 5-day BEP with concurrent HAART and prophylactic antifungals should be considered [1,6]. One should expect a 50% drop in the CD4 cell count with chemotherapy [6,9]. Treatment modifications should follow the HIV-negative model. Those with extensive pulmonary limitation from previous infection can alternatively have four cycles of EP chemotherapy [8]. Carboplatin should not be used as a substitute for cisplatin and dose modifications/delays should be avoided where possible. Growth factors such as G-CSF should be considered where appropriate [8]. Patients with intermediate- and poor-risk disease should be offered four cycles of standard 5-day BEP chemotherapy [1,6].