Pure dysgerminoma of the ovary: a single institutional experience of 65 patients.

Ovarian dysgerminomas are rare entity and account for only about 2% of all malignant ovarian neoplasm. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment, long-term survival, and fertility outcome of women diagnosed with ovarian dysgerminoma at our institution. Sixty-five women with histologically proven pure ovarian dysgerminoma were identified in this retrospective study. They were treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh; Saudi Arabia between 1976 and 2010. The median age was 20 years. The most frequent symptoms at presentation were abdominal pain and abdominal/pelvic mass. Thirty-three patients (50.7%) presented with stage I, 2 (3.1%) had stage II, 22 (33.8%) had stage III, and 4 (6.2%) had stage IV (4 unknown stage). Unilateral oophorectomy was performed in 50 patients (76.9%) while bilateral oophorectomy±hysterectomy was done in 12 patients (18.4%). Three patients had biopsy only. Forty patients (61.5%) received only chemotherapy, and 4 patients (6.2%) received radiotherapy alone. Recurrence was observed in 6 patients (9.2%). With median follow-up of 54 months, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 88 and 95%, respectively. On univariate analysis, adjuvant chemotherapy was independent better prognostic factor for DFS (HR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.84; P=0.034). Of the 50 patients treated with fertility-sparing surgery, 16 patients (32%) achieved pregnancy with 14 live births. Patients with pure ovarian dysgerminoma have excellent long-term outcome. There is no difference at outcome between fertility-sparing and nonconservative surgeries. Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with significant improvement in DFS. It is possible to maintain good reproductive function after conservative surgery followed by chemotherapy in our series.

[Clinical experience with chemotherapy of the malignant tumor of germinal cells (dysgerminoma) of the ovary]. / Experiencia clínica con el tratamiento a base de quimioterapia del tumor maligno de células germinales (disgerminoma) del ovario.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate two alternative plans of chemotherapy with EP (etoposide, platinum) and BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, platinum) after oncological surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A clinical, longitudinal and descriptive study was done, where the cases with pure dysgerminoma diagnosed in the gynecology-oncology service during the years from 1992 to 2003 were included. Information was recollected in a precoding survey that included sociodemographic characteristics, tumor size, free survival of disease, general survival, recurrence index and the index of fertility. RESULTS: The age of the group studied was of 22.1 +/- 6.5 years, with stratification to 9 patients in phase I (50%), phase III in 7 patients (38.9%) and phase IV in 2 patients (11.1%). Histological study confirmed the pure dysgerminoma, with a mean duration of the symptoms of 5.2 months, the free survival of disease was of 39.6 months and general survival was of 49.5 months. It was administered early chemotherapy in 11 patients, from which 7 received EP and the other 4 received BEP. Eight patients were found in advanced phases and with metastasis. There were 4 (22.2%) recurrences, of which 3 corresponded to phase III and a case to phase IV with tumors all of them over 15 cm. There were 3 patients rescued with chemotherapy of second line and a patient with radiotherapy to central nervous system. The statistical analysis showed that size of tumor among the recurrent group (24.2 cm) and the group without recurrence (14.5 cm) had significant differences (p = 0.018), the size of the tumor and the free survival of disease did not have significant correlation (p = 0.99), but upon comparing the general survival with the phase of the disease, a significant correlation was found (p = 0.03), where the survival to 5 years was observed in 6 cases (33.3%), of which a case was treated with surgery and without chemotherapy, 4 cases with EP and a case with BEP. Out of the 11 cases treated with conservative surgery, two patients got pregnancy in three occasions.

[Clinical analysis of 57 patients with ovarian dysgerminoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Ovarian dysgerminoma is an uncommen ovarian malignancy. Its clinical features are special and there are many factors influencing the prognosis. If treated properly, the patient can be cured. Otherwise it may endanger the patient's life. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical features and factors related to prognosis of ovarian dysgerminoma. METHOD: The data of 57 patients with pure Ovarian Dysgerminoma were analyzed retrospectively, who were admitted to Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences from January 1, 1964 to December 31, 2000. RESULTS: The main clinical features were abdominal mass (56.1%), abdominal pain (21.1%), abdominal swelling(17.5%), vaginal bleeding(5.3%), genital tract abnormality (5.3%). Twenty-six patients had stage Idiseases, 8 stage II, 9 stage III, 1 stage IV and 13 recurrent and persistent diseases. The uterus was involved in 41.2% patients with stage II-III diseases. Combined modality was given to 52 cases and single-method treatment 5 cases. The overall 5-year and 10-year survival rate for stage I-IV was 80.1% and 70.0% respectively. The 5-year survival rate for stage I was 100%, stage II 55.2%, stage III 55.6%, stage IV 0% and recurrent and persistent diseases 72.7%. In the group of stage I, 12 patients received adnexectomy and 14 patients underwent hysterectomy and adnex removal, there was no significant difference between the 5-year and 10-year survival rate (all 100%) (P < 0.05). Of 23 patients in stage I group to whom only chemotherapy were given after operation, 19 cases received 3 or more courses and were well being without recurrence; four patients received only one course and one of them recurred 21 months after operation. In the group of stage II and III cases the 5-year survival rate was 86.7% for those whose chemotherapy courses were > or = 4 and 25.0% for patients who received less than 4 courses of chemotherapy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of ovarian dysgerminoma is closely related to disease stage and modality of treatment. Fertility-preserving operation can be considered in early-staged patients, and be careful of doing so in middle-late staged cases. Good results can be achieved with operation-based combined modality in recurrent patients.

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumours -- a survival and prognostic analysis.

The medical records and histopathology of all ovarian germ cell tumours (OGCT) in a tertiary centre between 1980 and 1996 were reviewed. Response, overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS) and prognostic factors were analysed. Sixty-seven patients with OGCT were identified and treated, including 33 dysgerminomas, 18 immature teratomas, 10 endodermal sinus tumours, and 6 mixed tumours. Fifty-three patients (79%) received conservative surgery, 24 (36%) had residual disease post-primary surgery, and 43 (64%) had chemotherapy. Complete response was achieved in 62 patients (93%), 4 out of 5 patients who relapsed were successfully salvaged; OS and RFS at 5 years were 89% and 76%, respectively. Advancing stage of disease was the only significant adverse prognostic factor (p = 0.0001 for OS, and 0.0003 for RFS at 5 years). Out of 44 women with the potential to conceive following treatment, there were 16 successful pregnancies. None of the children born subsequent to the chemotherapy were reported to have any congenital abnormalities. The review indicates a high cure rate in OGCT with combined surgery and chemotherapy and that conservative surgery and preservation of fertility are feasible.

Primary malignant mediastinal germ cell tumours: a literature review and a study of 18 cases.

From 1957 to 1992, 18 cases of primary mediastinal germ cell tumours were referred to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute (PMCI). Six were seminomas, six were mixed germ cell tumours, two were embryonal cell carcinomas, three were teratocarcinomas and one was labelled an 'anaplastic germ cell tumour'. Two of the 18 patients were female. For seminomas, surgical (and in one case chemotherapeutic) debulking, followed by radiotherapy produced the best results. Mediastinal doses ranged from 30 to 40 Gy. Local control was achieved in those patients receiving mediastinal radiotherapy. Four patients currently survive disease-free. The non-seminomatous germ cell tumours showed a significantly poorer survival, and only two of 12 patients remain alive in remission at 110 and 130 months after diagnosis. Survival has been updated as of November 1997. Attention is focused on the anterior position of the primary germ cell tumours in the mediastinum. A review of the literature up to and including 1997 is presented.

[Laparoscopic preliminary surgery of ovarian malignancies. Experiences from 127 German gynecologic clinics]. / Laparoskopisches "Anoperieren" von ovariellen Malignomen. Erfahrungen aus 127 deutschen Frauenkliniken.

A controversial discussion has arisen between endoscopists and oncologists about laparoscopic management of ovarian cancer and borderline tumours. A questionnaire was mailed to 273 German Departments of Gyn./Obst. A response rate of 46% (127 hospitals) was obtained concerning the endoscopical technique used, the kind and delay of post-endoscopical cancer operation and the early findings (follow-up) in cases of ovarian cancer, dysgerminoma, malignant teratoma, tubal cancer and borderline tumours of the ovary. In this German survey it could be shown that laparoscopic management of malignant ovarian tumours was not uncommon between 1991-1994. Totally, 61% of ovarian cancer stage Ia and 84% of ovarian borderline tumours stage Ia have been reported without any pathological finding in laparotomy subsequent to laparoscopic management of the lesions. The 192 cases cited here are undoubtedly an underestimate of the real present frequency of endoscopically managed ovarian malignancies. Patients with this early "negative" report should be followed up carefully and may not permit conclusions that laparoscopic management of ovarian malignancies may be harmless for them. In 16% of the stage Ia borderline tumours and in 39% of the stage Ia ovarian cancer early spread has been found totally, demonstrating that implantations and metastases subsequent to the endoscopical procedure can be found even in an early follow-up phase. In 92.4% laparoscopic capsule rupture, tumour morcellement with intraabdominal spilling, subsequent cystectomy or adnectomy had been the technique of choice with additional rinsing of the intraabdominal cavity. This was harmful for the majority of patients if the subsequent cancer surgery by laparotomy was delayed for more than 8 days. Early progression of these cases to stage I c has been reported in 20% (7/36 cases) and to stage II-III in 53% (19/36 cases). Only in 7.4% the endobag procedure was used in laparoscopic management of ovarian cancer stage Ia. In ovarian cancer stage Ic-III (n = 50) an early seeding in the laparoscopic tract was reported in 52% (13/25) if subsequent cancer surgery by laparotomy was delayed more than 8 days. The endoscopical techniques and the early findings after an endoscopical management are reported in detail. In conclusion, in respect of common oncological standards the actual practice in laparoscopic management of ovarian malignancy is considered poor surgery. Capsule rupture, tumour morcellement and unprotected "biopsy" in the intraabdominal cavity and an additional delay of adequate cancer surgery are the main pitfalls of that procedure. For the overwhelming majority of patients undergoing such endoscopical procedures very early implants and metastases in the pelvis, the abdominal cavity or the laparoscopic tract have been found. It seems necessary that laparoscopic management of ovarian malignancies and borderline tumours under the present technical conditions are given up and that we should return to reliable standards of oncological surgery comparable to laparotomy. This should be discussed urgently.

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy in dysgerminoma of the ovary: thirteen-year experience at the Institut Gustave Roussy.

Twelve patients with dysgerminoma of the ovary were treated with various cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens. Chemotherapy was delivered as primary postoperative treatment in 6 patients. All of them are free of disease 18 to 180 months after initiation of chemotherapy. Six other patients received chemotherapy as part of the salvage treatment for recurrent disease. Three failures were observed: one toxic death, one primary failure, and one subsequent relapse. Three patients remain free of disease 50 to 95 months after initiation of chemotherapy. The role of chemotherapy in early- and advanced-stage dysgerminoma of the ovary is reviewed.

[Dysgerminoma of the ovary: a clinical retrospective analysis of 60 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the treatment methods and the prognostic factors of pure dysgerminoma of the ovary. METHODS: Sixty cases histologically confirmed pure ovarian dysgerminoma treated in our hospital, from May 1959 to Oct. 1992 were retrospectively analysed. Factors mainly studied were: age, symptoms, clinical staging and treatment methods. RESULTS: The median age of this series was 21. The main symptoms were abdominal mass, pain and distension. Thirty two out of 60 cases were stage I, 2 were stage II, 5 were stage III and 21 with recurrences or persistence of the disease. All cases excepting one case received surgery alone were treated by surgery combined with external radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Nine cases died of the disease. The actual 5-year survival rate was 85.17%. The survival rate for patients with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is 95% and that for patients with radiotherapy is 76.1%; no statistic significance was shown. CONCLUSIONS: In pure ovarian dysgerminoma surgery combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy showed high complete remission rates and excellent survival rates. For younger patients and those with gestation desires as well as patients with advanced diseases, adjuvant chemotherapy following surgery might be a better choice.

[Homogeneous dysgerminoma of the ovary. Analysis of 25 cases]. / Homogenne rozrodczaki jajnika. Analiza 25 przypadków.

Between 1972 and 1985, 25 patients with ovarian pure dysgerminoma were treated in the Center of Oncology in Cracow. In twenty-two (88%) patients total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and postoperative radiotherapy was undertaken. Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy alone was undertaken in 3 patients in stage IA. The five-year disease-free survival for all patients was 84%, for patients in stage IA degrees -- 100% (11/11), I degree -- 94.4% (17/18), II degrees and III degrees -- 57.1% (4/7).

Germ cell tumors of the mediastinum. A 30-year experience.

BACKGROUND: The records of 98 consecutive patients (58 males and 40 females; median age, 27 years; age range, 2-64 years) who presented with a primary germ cell tumor (GCT) of the mediastinum between January 1960 and December 1990 were reviewed. There were 45 mature teratomas, 8 immature teratomas, 16 pure seminomas, and 24 malignant nonseminomatous GCT (MNSGCT). RESULTS: All patients with mature teratomas were cured by radical resection alone, except one patient who died intraoperatively. Among the eight patients with immature teratomas, five were treated before the advent of cisplatin treatment (two children younger than 15 years were cured by surgery alone and three adults died within 7 months after operation). Three patients underwent surgery followed by cisplatin-based chemotherapy (two are still alive and one died of an associated rhabdomyosarcoma). Thirteen of 16 patients with seminomas (81%) were cured by surgery either alone (5 patients) or with adjuvant radiation therapy (8 patients). Among the 24 MNSGCT, 10 were treated before 1980 without cisplatin and all but 1 died of disease progression. Fourteen patients were treated by initial high-dose cisplatin combination chemotherapy and 8 (57%) achieved complete remission (2 died of systemic mastocytosis development). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate the benignity of mature teratomas of the mediastinum, the age-dependent clinical course of immature teratomas, and the excellent prognosis of seminomas. The improved survival advantage resulting from cisplatin-based chemotherapy in MNSGCT is impaired by the propensity to nongerminal solid tumor development and hematologic malignancies.

Prognosis of human chorionic gonadotropin-producing seminoma treated by postoperative radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To clarify the controversy about the management and prognosis of human chorionic gonadotropin-producing seminoma, the records of 132 patients with abnormal human chorionic gonadotropin values treated with radiotherapy were analyzed. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 1169 patients with pure seminoma treated in 10 institutions were screened for serum or urinary human chorionic gonadotropin. One hundred and thirty two patients with elevated human chorionic gonadotropin were found: 96 Stage I, 20 IIA, 7 IIB, 8 III and 1 IV. Median age was 34 y., mean follow-up was 5.0 years [range 1-12 y]. All received infradiaphragmatic radiotherapy (median dose 30 Gy), 25 (2 Stage I, 11 IIA, 5 IIB and 7 III) supradiaphragmatic radiotherapy (median dose: 28.5 Gy) and 10 had also initial chemotherapy (3 Stage IIB 6 III and 1 IV). Patients were allocated to three groups according to human chorionic gonadotropin values: (a) moderate elevation: up to 10 times (104 pts), (b) high elevation: 10 to 100 times (20 pts), (c) very high elevation: over 100 times the upper limit of normal value (8 pts). RESULTS: The proportion of Stage I, II and III was 76%, 19%, 5% in the ME group versus 50%, 35%, 15% in the high elevation group (p < 0.05). In the very high elevation group there were 7 Stage I and 1 Stage IV. Of 132 patients, six died (three dead of disease, two suicides, one acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The 5 years overall survival probability was 94%. There were seven recurrences (initial stage: 1 Stage I, 2 IIB, 3 III and 1 IV). Of these, there were one in-field recurrence, 3 out of field and 3 in both sites. In 5 of 7, the human chorionic gonadotrophin level was again elevated at recurrence. The 5 years recurrence-free-survival probability was 94% (98% for Stage I, 100% for Stage IIA and 65% for Stage IIB and III [p < 0.001 between I and IIB + III, p < 0.05 between IIA and IIB + III]). Four of the 7 recurrences were salvaged by chimiotherapy +/- radiotherapy. In the high elevation and very high elevation groups, the 5 years recurrence-free-survival was 88%, vs. 96% for the moderate elevation group (p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: Based on this series of patients, human chorionic gonadotropin production is not an unfavorable prognostic factor in pure seminoma. Even in the subgroups with high or very high human chorionic gonadotropin levels (who had a higher proportion of advanced stages), the prognosis remained excellent. In Stage I and IIA seminoma with abnormal human chorionic gonadotropin levels, recurrence rate after post-operative radiotherapy alone is extremely low.

Treatment of stage I testis seminoma by radiotherapy: long-term results--a 30-year experience.

PURPOSE: From 1956 to 1986, we have retrospectively studied 184 patients with a Stage I testis seminoma treated by orchidectomy and radiotherapy at the Institut Gustave Roussy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The 184 patients received adjuvant radiotherapy to the para-aortic and ipsilateral iliac nodes. Of the 184 patients, 133 received additional mediastinal and supraclavicular irradiation, 47 received supraclavicular without mediastinum irradiation, 98 patients received additional radiotherapy given to inguino-scrotal area. The mean dose of irradiation is 21 Gy which is the lowest dose published. The actuarial survival rate is, respectively, 96%, 93%, 83% and 77% at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. RESULTS: Four patients relapsed, and four died of progressive disease. Four patients presented cardiovascular disease, all of them had mediastinal irradiation, two were heavy smokers. Seventeen second malignancies were observed, six tumors in the contralateral testis. The actuarial risk of developing a second malignancy is 10% at 10 years, 21% at 20 years. The cure rate and relapse rate in our patients is the same as that obtained by higher dosage of irradiation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that low dose of prophylactic irradiation in lumbo aortic and ipsilateral iliac lymph nodes is active and safe in the treatment of Stage I testis seminoma.

Single-agent carboplatinum for advanced seminoma. A phase II study.

BACKGROUND: To reduce the side effects of cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy, the activity of carboplatinum was evaluated in patients with advanced seminoma. METHODS: Forty-two evaluable patients with advanced seminoma (defined as abdominal lymph nodes > 5 cm or supradiaphragmatic or visceral disease) received single-agent carboplatinum at a dose of 400 mg/m2 intravenously every 4 weeks for a maximum of six cycles. The median follow-up was 31 months (18-67 months). RESULTS: Thirty patients (71%) achieved a complete remission (CR; 21 chemotherapy alone, 9 with additional surgery), 8 patients (19%) a partial remission (PR), and 4 patients had disease progression (10%). Patients with metastases confined to the lymph nodes had a significantly higher remission rate than patients with visceral metastases (97% versus 50%; P < 0.002). Elevation of lactate dehydrogenase or human chorionic gonadotropin before radiation therapy had no influence on response rate. Eight patients have relapsed (five from CR and three from PR). All 12 patients failing carboplatinum therapy received cisplatin-based combination regimens. Ten patients achieved a stable favorable response (eight CR, two PR), whereas two patients died of their disease. Currently, 30 patients (71%) are continuously free from progression (25 CR, 5 PR), and 40 patients are alive (survival 93%). Toxicity was mild with no neurotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The use of up-front carboplatinum therapy appears not to compromise the ultimate curability of patients with advanced seminoma. Randomized trials, however, will have to demonstrate the effectiveness of carboplatinum with regard to survival, and help to identify prognostic subgroups of patients who require up-front cisplatinum-based combination chemotherapy.

[BEP/VIP in children and adolescents with malignant non-testicular germ cell tumors. A comparison of the results of treatment of therapy studies MAKEI 83/86 and 89P/89]. / BEP/VIP bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit malignen nichttestikulären Keimzelltumoren. Ein Vergleich der Behandlungsergebnisse der Therapiestudien MAKEI 83/86 und 89P/89.

The treatment regimen of the ongoing cooperative study for non testicular germ cell tumors (MAKEI 89 of the German Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology), was stratified as in MAKEI 83 and 86 according to histology, localisation and stage. In the 1989 study, vinblastine was replaced by etoposide, resulting in a chemotherapeutic regimen of 3 to 4 courses BEP and 3 to 4 courses VIP in patients with stage I to IV. Total chemotherapy was reduced for 25%. In children under 1 year of age, bleomycin was omitted and bleomycin dose was reduced to 50%. In children up to 2 years because of two toxic deaths due to bleomycin who were registered in MAKEI 89 Pilot phase. Until Jan. 31, 1993, 230 patients were registered in the MAKEI 89 pilot study and the MAKEI 89 study, containing 186 protocol and 44 follow-up patients (patients with intracranial tumors are excluded for the review). 78 of the registered patients had a teratoma, 9 of these 78 patients suffered from a relapse. In 7 of 9 patients a lasting second remission has been achieved. 12 patients offered with germinoma. 1 of 12 patients had a recurrence but is in second remission. 47 patients had malignant non germinomatous germ cell tumors with an event free survival of 91 +/- 0.4%. 2 of the 47 patients relapsed and died. Toxicity was mainly hematologic without evidence of long term effects. Bleomycin induced pulmotoxicity (WHO grade IV) was documented in 1 protocol patient (see above). Nephrotoxicity with a grade III (WHO) decrease of creatinine clearance was found in 25% of the documented patients with a fast return to normal values after the end of therapy in most of the children. For the follow-up MAKEI 93 study, different topics are defined. 1. The value of chemotherapy for immature teratoma has to be discussed. 2. In invasive immature teratoma in children over 1 year of age, the effectiveness of chemotherapy should be proved. 3. Germinomas show high platinum sensitivity, therefore a platinum based chemotherapy has to be examined for this risk group. 4. The value of a wait and see strategy similar to the proved regimen in the French germ cell tumor protocol has to be verified in patients with stage I non germinomatous germ cell tumors. 5. An intensification of chemotherapy in patients with malignant stage III and IV non germinomatous germ cell tumors has to be examined as a new therapeutic approach for this risk group.

[Improved prognosis of intracranial germ cell tumors by intensified therapy: results of the MAKEI 89 therapy protocol]. / Verbesserte Prognose intracranialer Keimzelltumoren durch intensivierte Therapie: Ergebnisse des Therapieprotokolls MAKEI 89.

Germ cell tumors of the central nervous system are histological identical to the extracranial tumor sites. According to the localisation germ cell tumors of the CNS are different in symptoms, diagnostic approaches, kind and location of metastases and stratification of therapy. Since 1986 patients with intracranial germ cell tumors are registered in the ongoing study for non-testicular germ cell tumors (MAKEI) of the German Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, and are treated in accordance to therapy guidelines for extracranial sites. In MAKEI 89 therapy strategy was revised with a reduction of radiotherapy and an increased cumulative cisplatinum dose from 200 mg/m2 to 400 mg/m2. Patients with germinoma receive after histologic diagnosis radiotherapy consisting of 30 Gy craniospinal irradiation and 15 Gy tumorboost. Malignant non-germinoma receive after diagnosis by tumor marker in CSF and/or serum 2 courses bleomycin 15 mg/m2 day 1-3, Etoposide 150 mg/m2 day 1 + 2 and cisplatinum 20 mg/m2 days 4-8 (BEP), continued by 2 courses Vinblastine 3 mg/m2 day 1 + 2, Ifosfamide 1500 mg/m2 days 1-5 and cisplatinum 20 mg/m2 days 1-5 (VIP), followed by 30 Gy craniospinal irradiation and 20 Gy tumor boost. In teratoma first line therapy is complete resection. In incomplete resected cases adjuvant chemotherapy according to histological grading is administered. Until 31st January, 1993 101 patients (pts) were registered, containing 69 protocol pts. Diagnosis in protocol pts was teratoma in 8 cases, 2 pts died postnatal because of extended disease, 2/8 pts relapsed, but were salvaged by chemotherapy. 40 pts offered germinomas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Testicular seminoma stage I: treatment results and long-term follow-up (1968-1988).

Sixty-nine patients with stage I testicular seminoma were referred to the Northern Israel Oncology Center between 1968 and 1987. Sixty-four patients were irradiated postoperatively and five patients had surveillance alone. Complete follow-up was available for all patients, with a median follow-up of 86 months (range 9-239 months). The last follow-up was in December 1988. Actuarial survival was 94% to 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. Six patients relapsed following completion of irradiation. All the recurrences occurred outside the radiation field. Three of the relapsed patients could be salvaged with cisplatinum-based chemotherapy and are alive at 4, 7, and 10 years following second-line treatment. Acute or chronic side effects were mild and manageable. Seven patients developed second primary cancers, two within and six outside the radiation field. While surveillance policy alone in stage I testicular seminoma may be successful in terms of patient outcome, it requires prolonged observation, good compliance of patients, and intensive use of resources. Thus, until proved otherwise, infradiaphragmatic radiotherapy should further remain the optimal routine treatment in seminoma patients with stage I disease.

Prognosis after resection of residual masses following chemotherapy for metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer: a multivariate analysis.

Following chemotherapy for metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer, 86 patients with normal serum markers AFP and HCG underwent resection of residual tumour masses (63 laparotomy, 11 thoracotomy, 12 both). Prognostic factors for relapse and survival were analysed with Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis. Putative prognostic factors included age, the primary histology, prechemotherapy level of the tumour markers AFP and HCG, the extent of disease (lymph nodes, lung and hepatic metastases) before and after chemotherapy, the histology of the resected material and the completeness of the surgical procedure. Eleven patients relapsed during follow-up (median 47 months), accounting for a 5 year relapse free percentage of 87.4%. Adverse prognostic factors were (1) prechemotherapy level of HCG (> or = 10,000 IU l-1; (2) incomplete resection; and (3) the extent of disease, especially of lung metastases (prechemotherapy number < or = 3,4-19, > or = 20; or size after chemotherapy > 1 cm; or presence of any residual lung metastasis after chemotherapy without residual abdominal metastases). The histology found at resection was not associated with the risk of relapse, which might be explained by the effectiveness of postresection chemotherapy, which in the majority of these patients was a salvage regimen rather than two further cycles of the initial cytostatics. A good and a poor risk group were formed, based on HCG level and completeness of resection. The effect of salvage chemotherapy after resection of viable cancer cells needs further investigation.

[Current status of therapy of CNS metastases of germ cell tumors]. / Derzeitiger Stand der Therapie von ZNS-Metastasen bei Keimzelltumoren.

The incidence of CNS metastases in germ cell tumors is 2-5% and in very advanced disease over 20%. We report on 37 patients in whom CNS metastases were diagnosed with the CAT scanner. Twenty-nine patients were subsequently treated. In 19 cases, treatment consisted of radiotherapy, 1 patient was only operated on, and in 9 cases patients received combined surgery and radiotherapy. Two patients had seminomatous germ cell tumors, 27 patients non-seminomatous tumors. HCG levels were high in 11 cases. In 31 patients the disease was in the advanced stages; in 6 the disease was at the early stage. If there was just a solitary tumor, operation was the preferred mode of treatment. Radiotherapy consisted of 50 GY whole-brain irradiation, with a tumor saturation up to 60 GY. In 2 cases we suspected radiogenic necrosis. There were no other severe side effects. Of the 37 patients, 4 obtained a long-term cure (observation time 34-90 months). Therapy must take all methods of treatment into consideration and should only be carried out in fully equipped medical centers. Only then can we hope to obtain long-term cures in individuals with this usually fatal disease.

[Fertility after treatment for testicular tumor].

Thirty-four patients with stage 1 or stage 2A testicular tumor all survived 5 years after the treatment, whereas eighteen patients with stage 2B or 3 testicular tumor, including only nonseminomatous tumor, had a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. Spermatogenesis returned to normal in 3 patients surviving 22 months after chemotherapy. Five patients who had undergone retroperitoneal lymph node dissection with division of the inferior mesenteric artery developed impaired ejaculation, whereas 3 patients who had undergone the operation without division of the inferior mesenteric artery had normal ejaculation. In 17 patients with right testicular tumor metastases were found in the para-aortic, paracaval and interaortocaval lymph nodes. On the other hand, in 4 patients with left testicular tumor metastases were limited to the para-aortic nodes. These results indicate that impaired spermatogenesis by conventional chemotherapy is reversible in patients with stage 1 or 2 testicular tumor, and patients with stage 1 tumor or stage 2 tumor with localized para-aortic metastases, not involving the inferior mesenteric artery, should undergo retroperitoneal lymph node dissection without division of the inferior mesenteric artery to preserve postoperative fertility.

Clinical profile and problems of management of 108 cases of germ cell tumours of testis at Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi 1985-1990.

A retrospective analysis of 108 cases of primary germ cell tumours of testis seen over a 6 year period at Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi is presented. There were 45 (42%) cases of seminoma and 63 (48%) of non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT). The median age at presentation was 35 and 30 years respectively. Almost half (56) patients presented in advanced stage (stages IIc-IV). Tumours in undescended testis formed an important subgroup (14%). The standard approach of treatment was radiotherapy in stages I & II seminomas and chemotherapy in bulky seminomas and metastatic NSGCT. Chemotherapy protocols used were VAB-6 and PVB. Although a policy of surveillance has been practised for stage I NSGCT, it is debatable whether it is universally suitable for our patients. The results of treatment in low volume disease are comparable to that in the west but the management of bulky disease requires a more aggressive approach. Unfortunately only 74 out of 108 (68.5%) patients were able to complete the treatment prescribed. Most of the defaulters were from the chemotherapy group because of inability to afford the drugs. The probability of survival of those who completed treatment was 0.77 at 4 years. Since testicular tumours are largely curable, a more vigorous policy of detection, follow up and treatment needs to be pursued. Better screening of children with undescended testis will reduce cancer in this group. Failure to provide chemotherapy to all patients is particularly unfortunate for a curable disease like testis cancer.