Alternating combination chemotherapy in patients with extragonadal germ cell tumors a southwest oncology group study

✍ Scribed by Ronald M. Bukowski; Michael Wolf; Bruce G. Kulander; James Montie; E. David Crawford; Brent Blumenstein

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 705 KB
• Volume: 71
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19930415)71:8<2631::aid-cncr2820710831>3.0.co;2-g

✦ Synopsis

Background. Extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGGCT) are uncommon, occur primarily in the mediastinum and retroperitoneum, and have been noted to have variable response rates to cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens.

Methods. The Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) has completed a prospective trial of combination chemotherapy followed by surgical removal of residual disease in patients with this type of germ cell neoplasm. Chemotherapy consisted of alternating cycles of vinblastine, bleomycin, and cisplatin with etoposide, bleomycin, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. Four cycles of therapy were given followed by surgical removal of residual disease where appropriate.

Results. Fifty patients were entered into the trial, and 41 were eligible, with 4 patients excluded by pathology review. Of the 41 eligible patients, 24 had mediastinal tumors, 15 had retroperitoneal tumors, and 2 had unknown primary sites. Complete response rates (chemotherapy f surgery) for the various sites were as follows: mediastinum, 18 of 24 (75%); retroperitoneum, 10 of 15 (67%); and unknown primary, 2 of 2 (100%). At 2 years, the disease-free survival rate for all patients was 87%.