Limitation of Conventional Cisplatin-Based Combination Chemotherapy for Disseminated Germ Cell Tumor: Implication for Introduction of Aggressive Treatment as an Initial Chemotherapy.

Abstract

To assess the limitation of standard cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy for metastatic germ cell tumor, clinical records of 37 patients with metastatic testicular cancer and extragonadal germ cell tumor treated with primary chemotherapy were reviewed. Thirteen patients of 37 had limitation of the treatment. We categorized the mode of treatment limitation into 5 criteria according to the response of tumor marker levels and radiographic findings, and recurrence. Tumor volume was strongly associated with the limitation of the treatment. Indiana University Staging System, not Royal Marsden Hospital's classification clearly discriminated the patient with limitation of standard cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. High dose chemotherapy was effective for patients to whom the initial chemotherapy with standard cisplatin-based regimen was effective. It did not offer any benefit to patients with refractory tumor. We conclude that it is important to introduce more aggressive chemotherapy regimens as an initial chemotherapy to patients with large volume tumor.