ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent a diverse group of rare neoplasms that vary in location, histology, and clinical presentation. This study focuses on the clinical outcomes and survival rates of children and adolescents treated with the bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) protocol. METHODS: This observational study evaluated children under 18 years diagnosed with testicular germ cell tumors and treated with the BEP protocol from January 2008 to December 2018. We employed descriptive analysis and used the Kaplan-Meier method to calculate event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival rates. RESULTS: The study included 32 patients with an average age of 9.8 years (SD ± 6.7). The primary reason for consultation was a testicular mass. The classification of patients was E-I for 14 patients (44%) and E-III and E-IV for nine patients (28%). Endodermal sinus tumors and mixed germ cell tumors were the most commonly identified histological types. With a median follow-up of 7.8 years (95% confidence interval {CI}: 5.9-9.6), the event-free survival was 63.7%. The overall survival at a median follow-up of 9.1 years (95% CI: 7.5-10.7) was 76.1%. CONCLUSION: The BEP chemotherapy regimen offers promising results for treating testicular germ cell tumors in children and adolescents, characterized by its low toxicity and minimal late side effects. However, patients older than 11 years displayed more adverse histological indicators, advanced disease stages, and higher relapse and mortality rates.
