Chemotherapy of Germ Cell Tumors in Women

Abstract

To the Editor. —Multiple reports verify the sensitivity to chemotherapy of metastatic germ cell tumors in men. In the first 50 patients treated with platinum, vinblastine sulfate, and bleomycin sulfate, Einhorn and Donahue 1 reported that 26 patients were converted to a continuously disease-free state in from 21 to 45 months. For the patients who experienced a relapse after obtaining a complete remission, etoposide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and cisplatin therapy can induce a remission. Williams and co-workers 2 reported 14 complete remissions and 15 partial remissions in 33 patients. There is little information concerning the same therapy applied to germ cell tumors in women. The following case demonstrates that these schedules are active in women with germ cell tumors. Report of a Case. —A 13-year-old girl had a laparotomy performed in November 1978, with right salpingo-oophorectomy for a tumor diagnosed as mixed embryonal carcinoma and seminoma. A total abdominal hysterectomy and left