Solid tumors
Testicular nonseminomatous germ cell tumor
Testicular nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors include several histologies, such as embryonal carcinoma, yolk-sac tumor, choriocarcinoma and teratoma, often in mixed tumors. Stage, tumor markers and the specific components guide treatment.
Other names and abbreviations
NSGCT · nonseminoma · testicular germ cell cancer · embryonal carcinoma · yolk sac tumor · choriocarcinoma · mixed germ cell tumor · Nonseminomatous germ cell tumour of the testis · mixed germ cell tumour when mixed histologies are present
Where transplant fits
High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue is an established option in selected relapsed or refractory germ-cell tumor settings. The patient’s own cells restore blood production after chemotherapy. A registry donor is not normally needed, and transplant is not routine for every newly diagnosed testicular cancer.
Treatment depends on the exact diagnosis, disease stage, prior treatment and the person’s health. These categories are not estimates of donor demand.
Treatment at a glance
- Who it affects
- These tumors mainly affect adolescents and younger adult males.
- Other treatment options
- Treatment begins with testicular surgery and may involve surveillance, platinum-based chemotherapy or further surgery according to risk. Relapsed disease can be treated with conventional-dose salvage chemotherapy or a high-dose approach in an expert center.
- Cells used for transplantation
- The patient’s own collected blood-forming cells for autologous stem cell rescue, when that procedure is appropriate.
Questions to bring to your care team
What is the exact diagnosis or subtype? What is the goal of each treatment option? If transplant is being considered, why does it fit this situation, which cells would be used and what are the alternatives?
Sources and further reading
- Testicular Cancer Treatment (PDQ)
NCI · Accessed 2026-09-05 - Indications for haematopoietic cell transplantation and CAR-T: 2025 EBMT practice recommendations
EBMT / Bone Marrow Transplantation · Accessed 2026-09-05 - Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplants for Cancer
NCI · Accessed 2026-09-05
Understanding can become action.
Some patients need a blood stem cell donor. Others receive different treatment. Wherever your interest began, you can help JBF reach more people who may be able to donate.
Explore the official registry serving where you live. It explains who can join, how registration works and what donation involves.
Find your official registryIf joining is not right for you, a gift to the Jada Bascom Foundation supports education, outreach and referrals to official registries.
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